A Pink Night at Essence Aesthetics on Furtherwick Road raised £568 with a raffle, cake sale and prizes from local firms, organised by two Canvey practitioners.

A salon on Furtherwick Road, Canvey Island, turned pink on Friday night for a breast cancer awareness evening that raised £568.

The Pink Night was held at Essence Aesthetics on Friday 23 October. It was organised by Maci Thompson, 24, who owns Skin & Blush, a semi-permanent make-up business working from Essence Aesthetics, and by Emma Solomons-Townsend, a practitioner at the salon. The organisers say the money raised is going to Breast Cancer UK.

“Together, we organised an evening of fundraising, including a charity raffle, homemade cake sale, refreshments and some wonderful prizes generously donated by local businesses,” Maci told us.

Two women in pink Breast Cancer Now T-shirts standing under pink ribbon bunting in the salon.
Two of the evening's hosts under the pink ribbon bunting. Photo: supplied by Maci Thompson

What happened on the night

The poster for the evening, which carried the names of Essence Aesthetics, Skin & Blush and Serenity Hair, set the entry ticket at £5 and the start at 7pm. It promised a goodie bag for every guest, some of them holding a winning ticket for a discount on a treatment, along with pink drinks and treats, games and prizes, and the chance to meet the practitioners. “All proceeds will be donated to support breast cancer awareness and research,” it said.

Each practitioner also offered a free treatment to someone who has had breast cancer, “as a small way to give back and show our support”, in the poster’s words.

Pink Night poster: Friday 23rd October, 7pm, Essence Aesthetics, 244 Furtherwick Road, SS8 7BY, £5 entry ticket, goodie bags on arrival, a free treatment by each practitioner, cake sale, charity raffle.
The poster for the Pink Night at Essence Aesthetics. Photo: supplied by Maci Thompson

The pictures from the evening show a “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” banner across the salon mirrors, rows of pink ribbon gift bags on the shelves beneath it, and a table of food laid on a cloth printed with pink ribbons.

A Breast Cancer Awareness Month banner over two salon mirrors, with pink gift bags on the shelves and food tables in front.
The awareness banner, goodie bags and food tables in the salon. Photo: supplied by Maci Thompson

The raffle table held gift vouchers, a yoga class pass, beauty products, a bottle of sparkling wine and a hamper box.

A pink-covered table of raffle prizes: gift vouchers, a yoga class pass, beauty products, a bottle of sparkling wine and a hamper.
Raffle prizes donated for the evening. Photo: supplied by Maci Thompson

“Overwhelmed by the kindness”

“We were absolutely delighted with the amount raised and overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of everyone who attended, purchased raffle tickets, donated prizes or supported us in any way,” Maci said.

“Our aim was not only to raise money but also to bring our local community together, spread awareness and show support for everyone affected by breast cancer.”

A woman in a pink Breast Cancer Now T-shirt standing in the decorated salon, with pink balloons and tables behind her.
One of the hosts in the decorated salon. Photo: supplied by Maci Thompson

The organisers said they wanted to recognise “the wonderful businesses and individuals who helped make the evening such a success”.

Pink gift bags printed with ribbons on salon shelves under the awareness banner, with a bowl of crisps on the table in front.
Goodie bags waiting for guests under the awareness banner. Photo: supplied by Maci Thompson

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