A Suffolk group that has raised thousands of pounds to help find a cure for breast cancer has been given charitable status.

East Anglian Daily Times: One of the many artists which turned out to celebrate Art for Cure's new charity status. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNOne of the many artists which turned out to celebrate Art for Cure's new charity status. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

Art for Cure has raised nearly £300,000 in three years through a number of exhibitions which have included pieces by national artists.

Belinda Gray, director and founder of Art for Cure, said she was ecstatic with the news.

“It’s been a long process and there have been quite a few obstacles,” she said. “The process has taken about six months but now means that Art for Cure is a registered UK charity.

“It’s a great sense of achievement. It will give us a new respect from people. It’s fantastic.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Pink and love helped to mark the celebrations for Art for Cure. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNPink and love helped to mark the celebrations for Art for Cure. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

To celebrate the groups’s new status an afternoon of sketching and painting was organised at the Art Retreat in Woodbridge for Belinda and her new event team.

The group began in 2014 when Belinda herself finished treatment for breast cancer. With the help of her friend Sally, who was also diagnosed with the disease, Belinda set about putting together an art and outdoor sculpture show at her home, raising £100,000.

Despite intending the event to be a one off, a second event took place in 2016 at Glemham Hall and gathered support from of a number of celebrities - including Ed Sheeran - who created unique canvas’ which helped to add to the final total of £175,000.

This year saw Art for Cure launch their first pop-up event at the Garage Gallery in Aldeburgh. The exhibition, titled She, was made up of paintings, sculptures, ceramics and prints on the topic of women and the female form. It raised a further £26,000 for the charities supported by Art for Cure.

Belinda now hopes that the charity will be able to reach it’s next fundraising target of £500,000 next year.

Plans for Art for Cure’s 2018 exhibition are already under way.

The event, which will return to Glemham Hall in May, will feature a number of both East Anglian and national artists, with shots from legendary fashion and portrait photographer Brian Duffy being one of the star attractions.

As well as the exhibition a charity bike ride is being organised by the Art for Cure team. The ride, next November, will start in Saigon in Vietnam and finish in the historical temple of Angkor Wat in north west Cambodia.