Fundraising nurses to compete in Ms Great Britain finals
Two registered nurses will compete in the Ms Great Britain finals next week and have raised money for charities close to their hearts in the lead up.
Ella Stiles and Rio Cole are taking part in the UK’s oldest pageant competition, which will be held in Leicester on 19 and 20 October.
“Rather than being exhausting, it’s actually something that tops you up in your spare time”
Ella Stiles
The two-day event will conclude with a glamorous evening celebrating the achievements and shared goals of the 75 grand finalists.
Of these, 40 women will compete to be crowned Miss Great Britain 2023, and 35 women, including Ms Stiles and Ms Cole, will be competing for the title of Ms Great Britain, or Ms Great Britain Classic for those aged 45 and over.
Since its conception in 1945, the competition has evolved into more than a beauty pageant, with a huge focus on fundraising for the affiliate charities as well as charities selected by the entrants.
In total over the years, around £170,000 has been raised for Cancer Research UK and £70,000 for Alex’s Wish.
Ms Stiles, a nurse from Maidenhead who works in complex care in the community, told Nursing Times that she was inspired to compete when she saw that Alex’s Wish was an affiliate charity, because the cause was familiar to her.
Alex’s Wish raises vital funds to uncover new treatments and search for a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an aggressive form of muscular dystrophy that affects one in every 3,500 boys born.
Throughout her time working as a nurse, Ms Stiles said she had encountered a few people with the genetic condition, which currently has no cure and a life expectancy of mid-late 20s.
“When I researched and found out that Ms Great Britain raises money for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, I thought this is absolutely perfect for me,” Ms Stiles said.
“It’s a small charity making a really big impact.”
Ella Stiles with chief executive of Alex’s Wish, Emma Hallam
Ms Stiles has raised more than £8,000 for the charity by hosting a gala evening at her local rugby club and doing a sponsored abseil down the 400ft Northampton lift tower.
She said she had enjoyed being able to fundraise in her spare time and encouraged any curious nurses to think about doing it too.
“It’s actually nice to have a passion outside of work,” said Ms Stiles.
“Rather than being exhausting, it’s actually something that tops you up in your spare time, by raising money for charity and worthwhile causes, which is a really positive thing.”
Ms Stiles noted that pageants had changed compared to 50 years ago, and that now they were all about “real female empowerment”.
“You don’t feel like you’re competing against each other, you feel like you’re competing alongside and with each other,” she said.
“It’s just this big camaraderie and feeling like you’re doing something in this big group of empowered females.”
Joining her in the competition is Ms Cole, a neonatal intensive care nurse who is also currently training to be a midwife.
Ms Cole told Nursing Times that she was also drawn into Ms Great Britain due to the charitable side of it.
She said: “I know you can fundraise and donate outside of beauty pageants, but what drew me in was the way the pageant centred their whole ethos around all the charitable causes and social activism.”
Alongside pledging money towards Alex’s Wish and Cancer Research UK, Ms Cole has also raised £350 for the London Air Ambulance by abseiling down one of its helipad towers.
“I have a fear of heights but I did it to prove a point that you can push yourself to do anything if you really want to,” she said.
“I showcase a powerful message behind doing the crazy stuff.”
Rio Cole abseiling down the London Air Ambulance helipad tower
Ms Cole said she chose the London Air Ambulance as a personal charity because she used to work at the Royal London Hospital, where the helicopter service is based.
Juggling the pageant and work has not always been easy, because both things require “commitment, responsibility and time”, Ms Cole explained.
However, she said that both herself and Ms Stiles had “become a symbol of empowerment and a catalyst for change”.
“My story, alongside all the incredible women of Miss Great Britain, including Ella Stiles, serves as a testament to the profound impact individuals can have when they strive to make a difference in multiple spheres.”
