KIMBERLY WYATT from the "Pussycat Dolls" has shone brightly to promote Cancer Research UK's latest fundraising event by posing in a bespoke, illuminated dress designed especially for her
The singer and dancer, who is a judge on Sky 1 HD's "Got to Dance" series, is encouraging people to sign-up for the night-time walking marathon Shine.
The eye-catching outfit, which was adapted for her from a dress found in a Cancer Research UK shop, was created by Wayne Hemingway's design team.
Cancer Research UK's first ever night-time walking marathon, Shine, takes place on Saturday April 17.
More than 5,000 men and women have already signed-up to raise more than £1m to fund vital research into the disease.
And the event is proving so popular that Cancer Research UK has now added an extra 2500 places - making the capacity 7500 and ensuring people still have a chance to enter.
Shine will see the city of Manchester illuminated as participants take to the streets in an inspirational procession of light, passing landmarks such as Old Trafford, Manchester Town Hall and Cancer Research UK's Paterson Institute.
The Cancer Research UK event marks a fundraising first for the charity as participants will be able to decide which type of cancer they want to support. They can choose to fundraise for 12 different scientific research areas including breast cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer -or give their backing to Cancer Research UK's overall work.
Kimberly Wyatt said: "I'm thrilled to support Cancer Research UK's first ever night-time walking marathon, Shine.
"Most of us will be touched by cancer at some point in our lives - if not directly then because of a loved one or relative being diagnosed.
"By posing in such a unique, eye-catching dress I hope to encourage people to sign-up for Shine and raise awareness of Cancer Research UK's valuable work which has helped save millions of lives.
"Cancer Research UK is making real progress towards beating cancer and this dress symbolises the fact that advances in treatments bring light to those affected by the disease."
Designer Wayne Hemingway said: "Every member of the HemingwayDesign team is thrilled to support Cancer Research UK's Shine event.
"We are pleased that more than 5000 people have already signed-up to take part in the night-time walking marathon.
"Kimberly Wyatt looks absolutely fantastic in the dress.
"We all know someone who has been affected by cancer in some way and want to do our best to help fund research for the generations of people affected by the disease in the future."
Jayne Leggat, Cancer Research UK Shine Event Manager said: "We are thrilled that Kimberly Wyatt and Wayne Hemingway have taken time out of their hectic schedules to support Cancer Research UK.
"Kimberly certainly looked fabulous in the amazing dress and we hope her fans will feel inspired to support Cancer Research UK by signing-up to take part in Shine."
The specially designed dress, which is metallic gold, was adapted from one found in Cancer Research UK's vintage and retro store in Chiswick, London.
More than 35,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the North West each year. Cancer Research UK is the largest funder of research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the UK, with over 4,800 nurses, scientists and doctors working together to beat the disease. The charity relies on fundraising and donations to support its life-saving work, which has seen cancer survival rates double in the past 30 years.
Shine is open to all men and women aged over 16 and entrants can choose to walk either a 26 or 13 mile route.
Cancer Research UK funds world-class research and clinical trials throughout the North West. Last year Cancer Research UK spent over £17m on research in Manchester. Much of this funding goes towards the pioneering work of the doctors and scientists at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research.
Researchers there take promising discoveries from the lab and develop them into potential treatments for cancer. They are currently developing new treatments for bowel, stomach, pancreatic and lung cancer.
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