Looking back over nearly 20 years of fun with Wellingborough's Crazy Hats charity

After nearly 20 years of fundraising, the Crazy Hats Breast Cancer Appeal is coming to an end.

But there is so much to celebrate from the past two decades.

Charity founder Glennis Hooper from Wellingborough has shared some of her highlights with the Northants Telegraph.

She said: "The first Crazy Hats day which raised £20,000 is a highlight.

"And then there's the 17 walks in total.

"One big moment was when we realised we had raised £100,000.

"We bought a massive snowman from Bosworths and we had our picture taken with this massive snowman, we were so proud.

"And then we went on to reach £1 million, £2 million and then £3 million.

"My mum would have been so proud of me and the charity.

"Marilyn [Clapham] and me started it all, she has been with us 100 per cent."

As well as the Crazy Hats walk, there have been cake sales, skydives, fashion shows, marathons and numerous other events where colourful hats of all shapes and sizes were obligatory.

There has also been a lot of public recognition for the charity and its work.

The charity was a winner of this newspaper's Pride In Northamptonshire awards.

And Glennis was nominated as one of four contenders from the west of the ITV News Anglia region shortlisted for the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards in 2018.

Back in 2014, Tom Pursglove took Glennis to 10, Downing Street, where she met Prime Minister at the time David Cameron.

And in 2016, Wellingborough and Rushden MP Peter Bone sported a 'crazy hat' in the House of Commons while praising the charity's work.

But none of what the charity has achieved would have been possible without the support of all the trustees, members and supporters of Crazy Hats.

The charity has also had huge support from many county companies, including Avon and Wicksteed Park.

The Northants Telegraph has been a proud supporter of the charity from day one, capturing pictures at every one of the walks and attending countless other fundraisers to raise funds to improve breast cancer care in the county.

Take a look back at the walk over the years with our picture gallery here.

And click here for even more pictures, we've got so many to share!

What are your memories of Crazy Hats and its fundraising over the years?

Send us your memories and pictures to [email protected] or share them on our Facebook page.