A Donegal woman is following in the footsteps of Nicole Kidman, Julie Walters and Theresa May after being nominated as the world Woman of the Year.
Nikki Bradley (31), will join over 400 women from all walks of life at the Women of the Year Lunch as a ‘2017 Woman of Achievement’.
Each guest is regarded as a ‘Woman of the Year’ and represents not only herself, but the millions of women who make a difference every day.
Nikki is attending in celebration of her work in raising awareness for Ewing’s Sarcoma through her fitness based campaign Fighting Fit For Ewing’s (FFFE)
Nikki set up FFFE in 2013 after receiving news from her consultants that she would remain on crutches permanently.
Previous attendees of the Women of the Year Lunch have included: , Theresa May, Nicole Kidman, Fern Britton, Dame Harriet Walter, Julie Walters CBE, Lindsay Lohan, Eimear McBride, Ellen MacArthur, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Julie Lulu, Mel Giedroyc, Nadiya Hussein, , Professor Mary Beard and Sally Lindsey.
Women of the Year has recognised, celebrated and inspired women of all backgrounds since 1955 and continues to shine a light on ordinary women, doing extraordinary work, through an annual Lunch and Awards ceremony, Alumnae events and on-going foundation work.
Diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer (Ewing’s Sarcoma) at 16, Nikki faced multiple surgeries in three different countries to try and save her right hip which was destroyed by radiotherapy. Told she will face full right leg amputation eventually, Nikki is determined to make the most out of life while she can.
She regularly participates in physical challenges to both raise awareness for the rare disease while also highlighting the importance of exercise for rehabilitation.
Nikki became the first woman on record to complete the Fan Dance Race Series on crutches. The Fan Dance is a gruelling 24km trek through the Brecon Beacon in Wales.
Some other challenges include attempting a Guinness World Record in Holland, climbing a route of the Sólheimajökull glacier in Iceland, abseiling into a 45 foot ice cave, numerous mountain climbs and becoming the first woman to abseil off one of Ireland’s most iconic lighthouses- Fanad Head Lighthouse.
Nikki said she was overwhelmed to be invited to the event.
‘I am absolutely honoured to be invited to such a prestigious event. I started my campaign to simply show others that we can do whatever we choose in life, despite disability.
“I never thought my actions would interest so many. It has been an amazing couple of years and I hope to continue to push myself in the hopes that others follow suit.’
This year’s event will take place on Monday 16 October 2017 at the InterContinental Hotel, Park Lane, London.
Sandi Toksvig, President of Women of the Year, said: “I’m looking forward to the honour of welcoming these incredible women to the Lunch in October. These women are making a huge difference in their own way, and it’s important that we celebrate such extraordinary work. I would love to show the room to every schoolgirl growing up in Britain today and tell them ‘you can be whatever you want to be: just look at these incredible women.’”
Exceptional women will receive special awards at the Lunch for being an inspiration to others, demonstrated by their courage, selflessness and dedication. These special Women of the Year Awards are sponsored by Barclays, Good Housekeeping, ITV’s Lorraine and Prudential and will be announced on Monday 16 October 2017.
Previous Women of the Year winners include:
• Baroness Doreen Lawrence, campaigner for justice following the murder of her son Stephen
• Christina Noble, founder of The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation
• Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Astrophysicist
• Fahma Mohammed, anti-FGM activist
• Jayne Senior MBE, Rotherham sexual abuse whistle-blower
• Katie Piper, who set up a charity to help burns survivors after being victim of a brutal acid attack
• Kris Hallenga, breast cancer awareness campaigner and co-founder of Coppafeel!
• Liz Clegg, a volunteer who has fought to reduce the plight of women and children living in the Calais Jungle.
• Marjorie Wallace CBE, British writer, broadcaster, investigative journalist, and Chief Executive of SANE
• Seema Aziz, founder of CARE foundation Pakistan, a not-for-profit organization that is on a mission to provide quality education to all
