[A] young woman from Penrith, who is an active charity fundraiser, is set to compete in the final of Miss Cumbria at the end of April.
Hannah Bradley, aged 21, is participating in the event for the third time and in her run up to the final has been raising funds for Variety, The Children’s Charity. Although Variety are a national charity, funds raised within a local area via the Miss Cumbria organisation are re-distributed within that area.
To date she has held a range of fundraisingevents has managed to raise in excess of £2000. Her next events are a cake sale and coffee morning at Hillcroft Park at Pooley Bridge on 8thApril, and a 90’s/00’s night at the Warehouse in Penrith on 21st April.
Most recently she organised an Easter Egg collection, to be distributed by CFM Cash for Kids to those in need throughout the local area. Later this week she will be handing over in excess of 100 eggs that the collection raised, from the generosity of local businesses and private individuals.
Hannah wishes to thank H & H Reeds Printers, Atlantic Geomatic, Rob Iveson of Central Garage, AST Signs, David Hayton, Jobcentre Plus, Eden Wedding Boutique, Carlisle Kenpo and Dalemain House for their wonderful support
The grand final, which is held at Harraby Community Theatre in Carlisle on 28th April is set to be a night of strong competition, with the participants taking part in 4 separate rounds – Eco Wear (where the competitors have to create an outfit out of old/recycled/donated items around a central theme), Sports Wear (where they can show off their sporting prowess!), Party Wear (where they show case the friendships built in the competition) and Evening (which is the glamorous finale to the event).
Awards are presented in the Eco round (which Hannah won last year!) for Publicity, Personality and Charity; as well as the overall title of Miss Cumbria. The winner from night will then progress to the Miss England semifinal, which will then give an opportunity to win a spot at the Miss England final; and the winner of that will go on to represent England on the Miss World international stage later in the year!
Hannah, who works as a service administrator at David Hayton’s in Penrith, is keen to dispel the image that many have over the traditional “beauty pageant”.
She said: “I have competed in many of these types of events, at both local and national level, and have found them to be nothing but a positive experience.
“I have made some great friends, I have massively increased my personal confidence and self belief and have become an active member of my local community. I am involved in community events, charity fundraising, volunteering – all of which I wouldn’t have managed without this organisation.”
Hannah went on to say; “In this time of female empowerment and equality, I have found this to be a wholly positive experience for girls and young women. All the participants recently took part in an empowerment session, and you could feel the confidence and positivity within the room – not what most people would expect from a massive group of females, who are to a certain extent competing against each other!”
Hannah, who is the daughter of Neil and Sue Bradley of Penrith, commented that those around her can see the positive change in her due to her participation in the contest. “At heart I am quite a shy person, however I now have the confidence to stand up and talk in front of a room full of people, to put myself out there with my fundraising and to better control the anxiety I used to feel in such situations.”
Anyone who is interested in following Hannah’s journey can do so via her Facebook page.