The Pink Sisters Wellbeing Club was founded by Annie after her breast cancer diagnosis, with a mission to create a supportive, judgement-free community for women affected by cancer. What began as a personal journey has grown into a welcoming network in Doncaster, where connection and shared experience are at the heart of everything.

Early use of branded promotional products from hotline™ helped bring the community to life—building identity, encouraging conversation, and leaving a lasting impression beyond events. Today, as Pink Sisters continues to expand, these small but meaningful touches play an important role in reinforcing belonging, visibility, and ongoing support.

Starting Strong: How Promotional Products Are Helping Pink Sisters Wellbeing Club Take Shape

When Annie founded The Pink Sisters Wellbeing Club, it came from a deeply personal place. After being diagnosed with breast cancer at just 28, she experienced first-hand how isolating the journey can feel without the right support network. What she needed was simple but powerful: connection, understanding, and a space where she didn’t have to explain herself.

That experience became the foundation for Pink Sisters. Today, it’s a growing community in Doncaster where women affected by cancer can come together, share openly, and feel a genuine sense of belonging.

Can you take us back to the moment you decided to start Pink Sisters?

The Pink Sisters began as something very personal for me. When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, I instantly went online looking for answers, support or just someone who has navigated this journey before. I started documenting my journey online, partly to help others who might be going through something similar, but also because I didn’t want to feel so alone in it all. There’s something incredibly comforting about connecting with people who truly understand what you’re experiencing. Through sharing, a community naturally began to grow – full of support, honesty and sisterhood. That connection became so meaningful to me that I felt a strong pull to bring it into the real world. I wanted to create something tangible, a safe and supportive space where women could come together in person, feel seen and understood.

What did you need most during your own experience that you wanted to create for others?

I was very lucky that I had a great support network around me, both emotionally and physically, and I don’t take that for granted. But I also know that not everyone has that, and I know how important that was for me whilst navigating such a difficult time. I wanted to create a space where people can have the support they need, a sister-hood. A place where you just show up as you are, no expectations and no judgement.

What does “community” mean to you now?

Community to me means, knowing you’re not alone, especially in the moments when life feels heavy. It’s people showing up for one another and feeling seen. It also means strength in togetherness. A group of women coming together from different walks of life, but all connected through shared experiences. There’s something powerful about that.

A key early milestone for Annie was hosting a Pink Sisters Wellbeing Club event in partnership with Doncaster Council. Creating a warm, safe and welcoming environment was essential to help women feel comfortable from the moment they arrived.

With support from Hotline, Annie was equipped with branded tote bags, pens and a roller banner. These simple but effective tools helped her create a warm, cohesive and recognisable environment for the Pink Sisters Wellbeing Club event, making it easier for attendees to feel comfortable, start conversations and immediately understand they were part of a supportive, welcoming community.

Rather than needing a full introduction, the branding helped communicate what Pink Sisters stands for. It reinforced a sense of identity and made the experience feel more established, even at an early stage.

The impact didn’t stop on the day itself. Attendees left with printed tote bags and promotional pens that carried the Pink Sisters name beyond the event, acting as gentle reminders of the community available to them. For some, that continued visibility can be the difference between a moment of interest and taking the next step to reach out.

How did it feel seeing your branding come to life at your own event?

It honestly felt surreal. Something that started as an idea during such a vulnerable time in my life was suddenly right there in front of me. It was a big pinch me moment, looking at everything I had created out of adversity, I was proud of myself and how far I’d come. Seeing the branding come to life was very emotional, it represented so much more than just a brand. It represented connection, healing, and everything the Pink Sisters stands for.

Did the merchandise help initiate conversations, in turn helping attendees to open up more easily?

Yes absolutely. People were coming up to me asking for a pink bag because they’d seen them around the event. People loved the merch and what it stood for. The merch was a great conversation starter and having something tangible to give to people made it easier to create little moments of connection that naturally led into deeper conversations.

Have you noticed any ongoing impact since the event from the promotional items people took away?

Yes, and that’s the most important part for me. The items are a visual reminder of the meaningful conversations that were had. Having items available for people to take away means the impact doesn’t just stay in the moment, but continues beyond the event, reminding people that they’re not alone and that they’re a part of something bigger.

For a new organisation, that kind of visibility is invaluable. It helps build trust, adds credibility and turns an idea into something tangible that people can recognise and remember. Small details, like branded items, can quietly reinforce a much bigger message: you’re not alone, and this space is here for you.

As Pink Sisters continues to grow, that sense of identity will only become more important.

Annie already has an exciting calendar of activity ahead. A 12-week Boxercise programme will bring women together weekly to support both physical and mental wellbeing. A special sound bath event in partnership with Unwind with Lisa will raise funds and awareness for breast cancer prevention, while plans for free yoga sessions will further support balance and recovery. Alongside this, the Pink Sisters book club is set to expand across Doncaster, with long-term ambitions to reach other towns and cities.

Across all of these initiatives, consistency will be key. Whether it’s a fitness class, a wellbeing session or a reading group, creating a recognisable and welcoming environment helps people feel part of something bigger. Branded items can play a subtle but important role in reinforcing that connection, helping every experience feel joined up and intentional.

As your events grow, how important is it that everything feels connected under one recognisable identity?

It’s really important to me. As Pink Sisters grows, having everything feel aligned and connected under one recognisable identity helps create a sense of consistency, trust and belonging. I want people to see our branding and instantly recognise it, but most importantly feel what we stand for.

How do you see branded items supporting your Boxercise sessions or future wellbeing events?

I see branded items playing a supportive role in creating a sense of unity and belonging within all future wellbeing sessions. Whether it be a hoodie, a water bottle, a tote bag or something small, it carries a feeling of strength and empowerment which they can take into everyday life. And be a reminder that they are a part of something bigger.

What excites you most about expanding the Pink Sisters community into new areas?

What excites me most is the thought of reaching women who might be feeling alone, overwhelmed or unsure where to turn, finding us and feeling understood and supported. Expanding into new areas means reaching more people and creating more of those safe and welcoming environments. It’s about growing the sisterhood and giving more women the opportunity to be a part of something that lifts them and others up.

For Annie, the goal has always been clear: to ensure no woman feels alone in her experience. With the right mix of community, visibility and thoughtful promotion, The Pink Sisters Wellbeing Club is well on its way to doing exactly that.

Supporting Others to Grow

As Pink Sisters continues to build momentum, Annie’s experience offers valuable insight for other organisations starting out or looking to expand their reach. Creating a strong sense of identity early on, combined with thoughtful use of promotional products, can make a lasting difference in how a community is perceived and remembered.

For many grassroots groups, especially those built around support and connection, small touches can have a big impact. Branded items are not just giveaways, they can act as conversation starters, confidence builders and lasting reminders that help extend the reach of a message far beyond a single event.

Summary and Looking Ahead:

What key insights or actions did you take away from the event?

The key insight for me was how much people need and value in-person connection. It reinforced how necessary creating a space like this is. It showed me the power of shared experience. When people feel understood they open up, and that’s when healing happens. It gave me a lot of confidence moving forward, seeing how people reacted to our initiative so positively really gave me a sense of empowerment.

Would you recommend partnering with hotline™ to other organisations looking for meaningful sponsorship support – and if so, why?

Yes, I absolutely would. Partnering with hotline™ felt really aligned and supportive from the very beginning. There was a real understanding of what The Pink Sisters Wellbeing Club is all about and a genuine willingness to support our vision. I couldn’t have asked for better support or more fitting products to help promote such an important cause that is very close to my heart.

What advice would you give to other organisations planning to use promotional products for their events?

I’d say be really intentional with what you choose, it’s more than just putting your logo on something. It’s about creating a brand and a feeling. When someone sees your products, what do you want them to feel? How do you want them to remember you? Having a strong brand identity is key – from your colours to your fonts, everything needs to be aligned. When everything feels connected on the surface, it strengthens your message and makes the experience feel more meaningful and memorable.

In conclusion, how would you summarise the impact that branded promotional products have had for the Pink Sisters Wellbeing Club so far. How will your promotional products help with your other well-being ventures in the future?

In summary, branded promotional products have played a really powerful role in bringing The Pink Sisters Wellbeing Club to life. They’ve helped turn something that started as an idea and a feeling into something tangible and shared. They’ve created a sense of identity and belonging, not just during the events but beyond them too. People aren’t just taking away items, they’re taking away a feeling of connection, support and sisterhood that stays with them.

Looking ahead, I see promotional products continuing to support all of my well-being ventures by helping to create that same sense of unity and recognition. Whether it’s through events, sessions or need spaces, they’ll play a key part in reinforcing the message, the experience and the community we’re building. It’s not just about the products, but the impact they leave behind. Thank you.