Darlington Pageant Finalist Raises Funds for Cancer Research UK Through Motorsport

A Darlington woman preparing for the Miss Great Britain final is using her passion for motorsport to raise money for Cancer Research UK and encourage more women to get behind the wheel.

Nicole Hanson, 22, is representing County Durham as Miss Durham GB 2026 and has made fundraising a central part of her pageant campaign in memory of her great-grandad, who died from a brain tumour.

Her latest event raised £224 in one day after Nicole joined fellow motoring enthusiasts at Abarth Fest. Donations collected from members of the Abarth community were matched by Tuning Art, doubling the amount raised for the charity.

Nicole has attended events across the North East and further afield throughout her Miss Great Britain journey, using each appearance to raise awareness of Cancer Research UK and encourage further donations.

She is also hoping to challenge assumptions about women in motorsport by bringing her automotive interests into the pageant competition.

For the Miss Great Britain talent round, Nicole took part in the Prescott Hill Climb, a famous Gloucestershire motorsport course where drivers compete against the clock on a steep and winding track.

Although she did not record one of the fastest times, Nicole said completing the course represented an important personal achievement.

“I wasn’t the quickest driver on the day, but that wasn’t what mattered to me,” she said.

“Getting out there and doing it was a huge achievement. If another woman watches and thinks, ‘I’d love to try that,’ then I’ve achieved exactly what I wanted.”

Nicole said the automotive community had played an important role in supporting both her fundraising and her efforts to encourage more women to become involved in motorsport.

She now plans to continue raising money in the run-up to the Miss Great Britain final, while using her platform to show that interests traditionally associated with pageantry and motorsport do not have to be separate.

Nicole added that she hoped her campaign would inspire other women to try motorsport, whether competitively or simply as a hobby.