A Darlington beauty queen has raised more than £1,000 for charity in memory of the great grandad she tragically lost to a brain tumour.
Nicole Hanson, 22, who is representing Durham in this year's Miss Great Britain competition, organised a fundraising event and raised £1,270 for Cancer Research UK after bringing together two of her biggest passions, cars and charity.
The Charity Show & Shine 2026 event attracted more than 65 vehicles to Alloy Wheel Workshop in Team Valley, with car enthusiasts travelling from across the North East and as far as Scotland to take part.
The fundraiser raised money in memory of her great-grandad Arthur Crosier, known to the family as "GG", who died from a brain tumour when Nicole was 13.
Nicole said: "Although he was my great-grandad, I always saw him as my grandad. We nicknamed him GG, short for Great-Grandad.
“He was funny, full of character and, honestly, the funniest man alive. He had a certain charm about him and always had a story to tell.
"One of the hardest things is knowing he never got to see the woman I've become. I wanted this event to honour his memory, but also everyone who has lost someone to cancer.”
Nicole said she wanted to use her Miss Durham title to create something meaningful while raising money for a cause close to her heart.
That idea became the Charity Show & Shine, which featured awards for Best Paint, Best Wheels, Best Interior and Hidden Gem, with all entry fees and raffle proceeds donated to Cancer Research UK.
The response exceeded expectations, with Nicole even running out of raffle tickets on the day.
She said: "Throughout the day people came over and shared their own stories about loved ones they had lost. Hearing those stories made it even more meaningful. It wasn't just about raising money, it felt like we were bringing people together for a cause that affects so many families."
Looking back, Nicole says one of her biggest regrets is not asking her great-grandad more about his life.
She said: "I wish I had asked him more questions about his childhood and everything he had experienced. I wish I had taken more time to hear those stories while I still could.
"I think that's what makes losing someone so difficult. It's not just missing the person, it's knowing there are stories you'll never get to hear and questions you'll never get to ask.
"GG will always be more than my great-grandad. To me, he was my grandad, and I'll always be grateful for the memories, the stories, the laughs and those little trips to the shop."
Nicole was supported by several businesses and organisations, including Spud Detailing, HB Vinyls, H2O Hydrogen Engine Cleaning, Bigby Studios, Alloy Wheel Workshop and Abarth Club North East.
Jamie Wards, who helped support the fundraiser said: "It was such a great day and I'm really proud to be part of it. The money that was raised for Cancer Research was amazing."
Nicole also thanked her mum, the Abarth Club North East team, James Bradbury from Bigby Studios and the team at Alloy Wheel Workshop for helping make the event possible.
On October 2, just two weeks before the Miss Great Britain final, she will take on an abseil down the Francis Crick building at King's Cross to raise even more money for charity.
Nicole will then represent Durham at the Miss Great Britain final on October 16.
She said: “Getting involved with Miss Great Britain feels like I have found that part of myself again.
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“No one in the North East has won Miss Great Britain before so I will be flying the flag for Darlington.
“If I can use this opportunity to make a difference and represent the North East in a positive way, that is the most important part for me.”
Earlier this year, Nicole raised a further £224 for Cancer Research UK at Abarth Fest, with visitor donations matched by Tuning Art.
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