Natalie Rogers crowned Miss Cancer Research after brave bid for title ended in A&E

Apr 3 2010 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

ELEGANT Natalie Rogers was crowned Miss Cancer Research for her whopping fundraising efforts – but the bravery behind her bid for the title ended with her in hospital.

The 23-year-old from Great Barr roped her friends into a daredevil bungee jump as she set her sights on the Miss Birmingham Crown.

But after she plunged to the ground she ended up in Accident & Emergency with whiplash, high blood pressure and bleeding in her eyes. But the lifelong Blues fan said it was worth it. Natalie raised a phenomenal £1,600 for research into cancer, a subject close to her heart.

“It was a really frightening experience and not something I would do again,” she said.

“But to know I raised so much money made it worth it.

“My grandad Gordon Docherty will be really, really proud when he sees this,” she said, pointing to the crown.

“He is suffering from bowel cancer and has been through a lot in the past year-and-a-half. It was a massive shock for me.

“Raising awareness for breast cancer in particular and cancer in general had been an important part of the competition.”

The civil servant described the competition as the “best experience of my life”.

“I’ve never done anything like this before, it’s not like me to get up on the stage but it has been wonderful.

“I’m really pleased I can walk away with my head held high,” she added.