Suffolk woman backs record-breaking cancer awareness event after losing mum to misdiagnosis
The world record will see the largest human cancer ribbon
A Suffolk woman who lost her mum to ovarian cancer is backing a Guinness World Records attempt to raise awareness of the disease.
Chloe Hickman, whose mother died in June 2024 after her cancer was misdiagnosed, is supporting a charity event in Ipswich aiming to create the largest human cancer ribbon.
The event, organised by Hope to Connect, will take place at a local fairground on April 11 and is expected to attract large crowds, with official Guinness World Records adjudicators in attendance.
Chloe said she plans to take part as part of her ongoing efforts to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and the impact of misdiagnosis.
“There is a local sort of fairground near where I live and on the 11th of April and they are attempting to make the largest cancer ribbon for awareness,” she said.
“They’re going to have like Guinness World Records there and things like that. I am going to buy tickets and be part of that because I think it’s really, really important.”
Her involvement follows a personal fundraising walk earlier this year, when she completed 11 miles in Felixstowe over Mother’s Day weekend in memory of her mum.
She said her motivation has been driven by her mother’s experience during her illness.
“Honestly, the whole way I was like, I need to keep going,” she said.
“My mum did not have a choice about how she felt when she was battling her illness… my mum had it so much harder than I did.”
Chloe is now working to raise the profile of the upcoming event by contacting public figures and organisations.
“We’ve just been reaching out to local celebrities, journalists, MPs, things like that,” she said.
“We’re just really trying to amp up the awareness.”
Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage, with symptoms that can be difficult to recognise, and campaigners have long called for improved awareness and earlier detection.
Chloe said she hopes events like the Ipswich record attempt will help prevent other families from going through similar experiences.
The Guinness World Record attempt is open to members of the public, with organisers encouraging as many people as possible to take part.