Patients across Cheshire East are to benefit from a major investment in diagnostic technology.

The 2026 Boot Out Breast Cancer Ball held earlier this month raised over £116,000 to be shared between the breast screening units at Macclesfield District General Hospital and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Debbie Dowie, who founded Boot Out Breast Cancer in 2010 following her own breast cancer diagnosis, hosted the Midsummer Night's Dream–themed evening.

She said: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart to my incredible team, my amazing family, and every single person who supported Boot Out Breast Cancer.

"Your generosity, energy and belief in what we do helped us raise an incredible £116,062, and donations are still coming in."

Debbie Dowe, founder of Boot Out Breast Cancer (Credit: SDM media)

"The money raised on the night, together with donations received beforehand, means we are able to fund £100,000 of vital diagnostic equipment for the Leeds Breast Unit and £150,000 for the breast unit at New Alderley House in Macclesfield."

The Boot Out Breast Cancer Ball was held on Saturday, March 7, at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester.

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The evening was hosted by BBC Sports presenter Hugh Ferris, whilst live music was provided by Kevin Simm, lead vocalist of Wet Wet Wet.

Britain's most decorated Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, who recently visited the Breast Screening Unit at Macclesfield, featured in a special promotional film which was shown at the ball.

Dame Sarah, a patron of the Boot Out Breast Cancer charity, used the visit to highlight the critical importance of early diagnosis.

Lily Preston, fundraising and events manager at East Cheshire NHS Charity, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Debbie and the Boot Out Breast Cancer team for their unwavering support.

"A donation of this scale allows us to invest in the very latest diagnostic technology that sits outside of core NHS funding and will provide the best possible tools to improve patient outcomes."

Former British Paralympian and patron for Boot Out Breast Cancer Dame Sarah Storey, featured in a promotional video at the event (Credit: SDM Media)