HUNDREDS of people woke up early on a cold, Sunday morning to take part in an aerial photo shoot for charity.

A crowd adorned in pink gathered at the Arc shopping centre, in Bury St Edmunds, yesterday to support the Suffolk Breakthrough Breast Cancer event.

It had been hoped 2,300 people would turn up – representing 5% of people diagnosed with breast cancer every year – but organiser Gina Long said it had been “very successful” even though that figure was not achieved.

Nearly 300 people came along for the Go Pink photo, published in the East Anglian Daily Times.

Mrs Long said: “We have had a good crowd turn up for this first picture, which we hope is going to become an annual event in the Arc.”

She added: “The atmosphere was brilliant.”

The sounds of salsa filled the shopping centre as supporters warmed up and shared their stories.

Pam Stammers, of Ord Road, in Fornham St Martin, took part with her sister Anne Wilson of Downing Close, in Bury St Edmunds.

Mrs Stammers, a 58-year-old mother-of-two, was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago.

She had to have a double bilateral operation and underwent breast reconstruction work.

Mrs Stammers said female family and friends were curious so she let them see what had been done in exchange for a donation.

She presented the money she had collected over the past few years to Suffolk Breakthrough at yesterday’s event.

She said: “I thought, how can I pay back? So my little bit towards it was a pot. Today was a golden opportunity to bring it with me.”

Mrs Long said the Go Pink picture, taken from the Apex music and entertainment venue, was a culmination of various events the group had organised during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Money was raised at yesterday’s event through donations, and Mrs Long said that at the photo shoot in the future, supporters could present cheques from their fundraising efforts for the charity.