More than just a fashion show

The 10th Keeping Abreast Fashion Shows take place next week in Norwich. Here, Victoria Pigg, CEO of the breast cancer reconstruction support charity, explains why it’s become so much more than just a fashion show over the past decade

Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Victoria Pigg, CEO of Keeping Abreast, a charity supporting people facing breast cancer-related reconstruction. My role is incredibly varied, from leading our team and developing our services to raising awareness and making sure people can access the information and support they need. I feel very privileged to work alongside such an inspiring community and to help ensure that nobody faces their reconstruction journey alone.

What led you to getting involved with Keeping Abreast as a charity?

I was drawn to Keeping Abreast because of the very real difference it makes to people at a time when they can be facing some incredibly difficult decisions. I believe that people should have access to clear, honest information and compassionate support, as well as the opportunity to connect with someone who has lived through a similar experience. The charity’s values and its focus on helping people make informed choices for themselves really resonated with me, and I wanted to be part of helping that vision become a reality.

For those not in the know, what does the charity set out to do?

Keeping Abreast is the UK’s specialist breast cancer reconstruction support charity. Founded in 2007 by two patients with lived experience, alongside a Breast Cancer Reconstruction Nurse Specialist, the charity was born from a shared understanding that people facing breast reconstruction need more than medical information. They also need support, understanding and to talk to others who truly know what they are going through.

Our vision is a future where everyone facing breast cancer-related reconstruction has equal access to lived experience, honest information and compassionate peer support at every stage of their journey, whether they are considering reconstruction, going through it, or living with the outcome. We also support people who carry a hereditary breast cancer-related gene and are considering risk-reducing surgery, because those decisions can be just as significant and emotionally challenging.

Keeping Abreast also supports partners, family members, carers, and close friends who play an important role throughout the reconstruction journey. We work closely with NHS breast care teams and other partners to complement clinical care and ensure that no- one has to face their breast cancer reconstruction journey alone.

How would you describe the forthcoming fashion show? It clearly is ‘more than just a fashion show’?

It really is so much more than a fashion show. It is a celebration of confidence, courage and the incredible people in our community, with our models sharing their own experiences and showing that life after breast cancer and breast cancer-related reconstruction can be full of positivity, possibility and joy. There is plenty of glamour and fun on the night, but at its heart it is about connection, raising awareness and making sure people know that Keeping Abreast there for them.

This will be the 10th fashion show. How has the event evolved over the years?

It is quite amazing to think that we are now preparing for our 10th show, alongside celebrating 20 years of the charity in 2027. What started as a way of raising awareness of Keeping Abreast and championing those it supports has grown into a much-loved event that brings together our community. Although the event has evolved and grown, the heart of it has remained the same: celebrating our incredible models, sharing their stories and showing people that there is support available throughout their journey.

When and where is it happening and what can people expect on the night?

The 10th-ever Keeping Abreast Fashion Show takes place at Epic Studios in Norwich on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st October, and we are really looking forward to making it a very special evening. Guests can expect fashion, music, entertainment, plenty of sparkles and, most importantly, some truly inspiring stories from our models. It is an evening of celebration and positivity, while also helping us raise vital funds so we can continue the support this amazing charity provides.

How can people find out more about the charity in general and the event in particular?

Tickets for the Keeping Abreast Fashion Show at Epic Studios on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st October can be booked via the venue’s website: Epic Studios Events; just search for ‘Keeping Abreast’. Standard tickets are £19.50 each and VIP tickets £42 and the Show starts at 7.30pm.

As for the charity, the best place to find out more is our website, where people can learn about the support we offer and our upcoming events. We also share stories, information and updates through our social media channels, so there are lots of ways to connect with us. Whether you are looking for support yourself, want to support someone else, are interested in the Fashion Show or simply want to understand more about what we do, we would love people to get in touch.

What are your hopes for the charity?

My hope is that we can continue to reach even more people across the UK and ensure that everyone facing breast cancer-related reconstruction gets the support they need as early as possible. I want Keeping Abreast to continue growing as a community where lived experience, honest information and peer support are available to everyone, now and always.

The 10th Keeping Abreast ‘More than just Fashion’ Shows take place at Epic Studios, Norwich, on Tuesday October 20 and Wednesday October 21, 2026. Visit Keeping Abreast; call 01603 819113 or email: info@keepingabreast.org.uk. Follow on Facebook or Instagram, or join the closed Keeping Abreast Online Support Group UK on Facebook. For a direct link to real-life reconstruction videos, visit Video Journey Roadmap – Keeping Abreast.

Featured image of Victoria Pigg – supplied