Bellway raises more than £50,000 for Cancer Research UK with ball in memory of ‘inspirational’ charity worker Sophie Busson

A fundraising ball in Cardiff organised by homebuilder Bellway in memory of ‘inspirational’ charity worker Sophie Busson has raised £50,312 for Cancer Research UK (CRUK).

Sophie, who died of cancer in July last year at the age of 39, had been CRUK Wales Relationship Manager since 2021 and worked closely with Bellway’s Wales division on its regular fundraising for the charity.

Bellway chose CRUK as its national charity partner in 2016 and since then has raised £5.1 million for the charity. Sophie collaborated on its fundraising events in Wales, including the division’s annual golf tournament, which she would attend and speak at.

So, in memory of Sophie, Bellway held a fundraising ball on Saturday 31 January at Cardiff’s Park Plaza Hotel and pledged to double match the funds raised by the event and add that to the total.

CRUK Relationship Manager Louise Gash spoke to the gathering on the night remembering Sophie and thanking Bellway for its support for the charity and for organising the charity ball.

Later she said: “'A wonderful fun event, with a serious message and a beautiful tribute to our colleague, Sophie. Cancer Research UK are extremely grateful for the money raised by Bellway Wales and Sophie would have been so proud.”

Sophie, from Newport, was first diagnosed and treated for breast cancer aged 30 but then in 2023 the cancer returned.

Rachel Singers, who is PA to the Bellway Wales Managing Director, would meet Sophie twice a year to discuss and plan Bellway’s fundraising events for the division and she made a big impression on her.

Rachel said: “Sophie was so funny and full of energy. She never moaned; she was a joy to work with, and meetings with her would brighten up my day. She often spoke of her family and she cherished her two sons, Leo and Reggie. She was grateful for the people in her life, and time spent with them.

“Despite the burden of her diagnosis, Sophie was always smiling, always hopeful, and she tried to live her life to the full every day, which motivated me to do the same. She truly was, and still is, an inspiration.”

After Sophie died Rachel suggested to Bellway Wales that a fundraising ball should be held in her memory and the company agreed.

More than 200 guests attended the event which included dinner, speeches, an auction and raffle, live music and sets from comedian Ignacio Lopez.

Among the guests were Sophie’s husband Gareth Busson and her twin sister Stephanie Savigar, as well as colleagues from CRUK.

The event included an auction. Flooring sub-contractor VisionFlor successfully bid £4,000 for a week’s villa stay in Turkey and gave it to Sophie’s family. The villa stay was donated to the charity auction by Julie and Vince McCormick from painting and dry-lining sub-contractor V & C.

To find out more about Cancer Research UK’s work in Wales, visit https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/we-develop-policy/we-work-with-government/cancer-research-uk-in-wales.

For more information about Bellway Wales, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/wales.