Margo Cornish MBE

Margo Cornish, a British charity campaigner dedicated to cancer-related causes. Margo Cornish MBE is a British philanthropist and charity campaigner known for her leadership in innovative cancer fundraising initiatives. She has devoted much of her career to supporting cancer charities in the North West of England, helping to raise well over £1 million for organizations including Maggie’s Cancer Centres and Prevent Breast Cancer​preventbreastcancer.org.uk. In recognition of her impactful work, Cornish was honored with an MBE in the King’s 2025 New Year Honours for services to cancer charities​macclesfield.nub.news. The following is a detailed profile of her background, charitable career, and achievements.

Personal Background

Margo Cornish is based in Prestbury, Cheshire (near Macclesfield)​macclesfield.nub.news. She is married to Charlie Cornish former Group Chief Executive and now Chairman of Manchester Airports Group – a connection that famously enabled her to stage unique charity events at Manchester Airport’s Concorde hangar ​margo-cornish-pjgo.squarespace.com. While details of her early life and education are not widely publicized, Cornish’s commitment to charity work was fueled by personal experiences. She has shared that she became motivated to fight cancer after “hearing about friends and friends of friends” being diagnosed, and experiencing a personal “wake-up call” about her own health​preventbreastcancer.org.uk. This resolve was strengthened by her volunteer work at Maggie’s Manchester, where she witnessed many women living with breast cancer – both success stories and tragedies – which convinced her that “I had to do more”​preventbreastcancer.org.uk. Cornish’s personal passion to make a difference in the cancer community has been the driving force behind her extensive charitable activities.

Prevent Breast Cancer

Cornish has played a pivotal role in the charity Prevent Breast Cancer, a UK organization devoted to funding research into the prediction and prevention of breast cancer. She first became involved with the charity in 2019, when she spearheaded BreastFest, Greater Manchester’s first-ever breast health awareness festival​preventbreastcancer.org.uk. As part of BreastFest, Cornish launched the creative “BooBee” campaign, which used a friendly bee mascot (“BooBee”) and a team of volunteer ambassadors (nicknamed the “BooBees”) to encourage women to be breast aware. The campaign included attention-grabbing events – from a pink double-decker “BooBee Bus” touring the city to a catchy “Check Yourself” song performed at Manchester Pride – all aimed at spreading the message about regular breast self-exams​preventbreastcancer.org.uk​preventbreastcancer.org.uk. Cornish’s efforts with BreastFest and BooBee were so successful that in January 2020 she was appointed a Patron of Prevent Breast Cancer, a prestigious role acknowledging her contributions​preventbreastcancer.org.uk.

As Patron, Cornish serves as an advocate and public face for Prevent Breast Cancer. She continues to lead awareness and fundraising initiatives for the charity. Under her leadership, the BooBee campaign has grown into an regular fundraiser in Greater Manchester, helping to make the city “the best in the country for awareness of breast cancer in women”​macclesfield.nub.news. In 2024 alone, Cornish and her team of “BooBees” raised over £60,000 for Prevent Breast Cancer through various events and activities​ preventbreastcancer.org.uk. Cornish has expressed that this work is deeply meaningful to her, noting that it’s “so important, not just to this generation of women but those yet to come,” and that community involvement in prevention can truly save lives​preventbreastcancer.org.uk. Through her patronage, Cornish continues to seek opportunities to promote the charity’s mission of making breast cancer a disease of the past ​preventbreastcancer.org.uk. Her dynamic campaigns and hands-on approach have significantly helped to elevate Prevent Breast Cancer’s profile and outreach in recent years.

In 2024, as part of the impactful BooBee campaign, Cornish thoughtfully added Make 2nds Count to her expanding portfolio of charity benefactors. Buzz of Hope, which features Hope—a sister bee to Boobee—serves to represent and raise awareness about the concerning statistics surrounding the occurrence of secondary breast cancer among women who have received a primary diagnosis.

Maggie’s Manchester

A major focus of Margo Cornish’s charitable career is Maggie’s Manchester, a cancer support center located at The Christie hospital in Manchester. Cornish serves as a member of the board for Maggie’s Manchester​macclesfield.nub.news, playing an active role in guiding and fundraising for the center’s programs. She has been instrumental in organizing high-profile events to benefit Maggie’s, most notably the “Maggie’s on the Runway” fashion shows. These runway events are an evolution of Cornish’s earlier projects (originating as “Runway on the Runway”) and involve cancer patients and survivors as models. In a spectacular setting beneath a decommissioned Concorde airplane at Manchester Airport’s hangar, Maggie’s on the Runway provides an empowering prom-themed fashion show experience for participants while raising money for the center​margo-cornish-pjgo.squarespace.com. Cornish conceived this innovative idea as a way to combine glamour and fundraising, and it has been hailed as “one of the most spectacular and innovative charity events” in the region​margo-cornish-pjgo.squarespace.com.

Under Cornish’s leadership, Maggie’s on the Runway has achieved remarkable success. An early special edition of the show raised funds for the then-new Maggie’s Centre at The Christie and was the first to feature models all of whom had been affected by cancer​ pointsoflight.gov.uk. The runway shows and related campaigns have continued in subsequent years. In 2021, despite challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, Cornish and her team hosted Maggie’s on the Runway and raised an outstanding £250,000 in one evening – a milestone that brought the total funds raised by Cornish’s runway initiatives to over £1 million for cancer support in the North West​maggiesontherunway.com. These funds have been vital in keeping the Maggie’s Manchester center running and expanding its free services for people affected by cancer. Cornish’s ability to rally volunteers, engage corporate sponsors, and infuse fun and hope into fundraising has made her events both memorable and impactful​pointsoflight.gov.uk​pointsoflight.gov.uk.

During the 2020 pandemic lockdown, unable to do her normal fundraising activities, Cornish encouraged people to dress up on “bin day” – turning the simple act of taking out the wheelie bin into a driveway catwalk – to raise funds for Maggie’s Manchester​macclesfield.nub.news. Cornish’s dedication to Maggie’s went beyond the Concorde runway. When the 2020 Maggie’s on the Runway show had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, she quickly pivoted to a creative grassroots campaign. She launched a lighthearted “Glam Up for Your Bin Day” challenge on social media, urging people stuck at home in lockdown to don their finest clothes when taking out the trash and use their driveway as a catwalk​macclesfield.nub.news. Participants would share photos or videos of their bin-night strut, donate to Maggie’s Manchester, and nominate friends to do the same​macclesfield.nub.news. This quirky challenge lifted spirits and continued to generate donations for the center at a time when traditional events were impossible. It exemplified Cornish’s resourcefulness and her unwavering commitment to supporting cancer patients even under difficult circumstances. Through both grand events and small community campaigns, Cornish has been a driving force for Maggie’s Manchester, helping the center support thousands of people across the region​macclesfield.nub.news.

Teenage Cancer Trust and “Runway on the Runway”

Margo Cornish first rose to prominence in the charity world through her work with the Teenage Cancer Trust. She is the founder of the “Runway on the Runway” project, a prom-themed fashion show aimed at teenagers, which ingeniously combines glamour and philanthropy​pointsoflight.gov.uk. The concept involves staging an American-style high school prom fashion show on a purpose-built catwalk underneath the iconic Concorde airliner at Manchester Airport. Local schools and students participate, modeling prom attire, and some young people who have faced cancer share their stories, making the event both uplifting and impactful​margo-cornish-pjgo.squarespace.com​margo-cornish-pjgo.squarespace.com. Cornish’s first Runway on the Runway event took off in 2013, and it was met with great enthusiasm for its originality and heart. The project’s aim has been twofold: to give teenagers (including those whose prom might have been disrupted by illness) a chance to shine, and to raise funds and awareness for Teenage Cancer Trust’s work with young cancer patients​pointsoflight.gov.uk.

Over the years, multiple Runway on the Runway shows were held (in 2013, 2015, 2017 and beyond), each growing in scale and fundraising success. Cornish engaged volunteer “cabin crew” helpers and partnered with sponsors (such as airlines) to make each event memorable​margo-cornish-pjgo.squarespace.com. By 2017, Runway on the Runway was recognized as the “Top Fundraising Event” at the North West Charity Awards​margo-cornish-pjgo.squarespace.com, having raised over £50,000 in a single night and significantly more across all shows. Early editions of the event directed proceeds to the Teenage Cancer Trust, contributing vital funds to support teenage cancer units and services​pointsoflight.gov.uk. Cornish’s dedication also led her to initiate “The Cinderella Project,” which collected donated prom dresses and suits so that teenagers affected by cancer or hardship could attend the Runway on the Runway in style. This holistic approach – raising money, boosting self-esteem, and creating joyful experiences – has been a hallmark of Cornish’s method. It has been said that “it’s all about young people helping other young people,” highlighting the peer support element of the project​margo-cornish-pjgo.squarespace.com.

Thanks to her work with Runway on the Runway, Cornish became an official North West Ambassador for Teenage Cancer Trust. In this ambassadorial role, she continues to advocate for young cancer patients and often speaks at or supports Teenage Cancer Trust events in the region. Her dual passion for Teenage Cancer Trust and Maggie’s Manchester eventually intersected: in a special 2016 edition of Runway on the Runway, Cornish decided to channel the funds toward the newly opened Maggie’s Centre, and for the first time filled the catwalk entirely with models who were cancer survivors or patients​pointsoflight.gov.uk. This unique show not only raised substantial funds for Maggie’s but also earned Cornish a prestigious recognition (presented by Maggie’s patron Rick Astley) for her “fashionable fight” against cancer​pointsoflight.gov.uk. By 2021, the cumulative fundraising total from the Runway on the Runway initiative – benefitting various North West cancer charities, including Teenage Cancer Trust and Maggie’s – had surpassed £1 million​maggiesontherunway.com, a testament to the sustained impact of the movement Cornish started.

Recognitions and Honors

Margo Cornish’s extraordinary contributions have earned her several honors. Most notably, she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s New Year Honours list for 2025, in recognition of her services to cancer charities​macclesfield.nub.news. This national honor reflects the wide-reaching influence of Cornish’s volunteer leadership and the significant funds and awareness she has raised for cancer prevention, treatment, and support. Cornish humbly dedicated the award to all the colleagues and volunteers who have supported her missions, stating: “This award is for all of us… It takes a can-do team to accomplish the dream”​preventbreastcancer.org.uk. Nikki Barraclough, the Chief Executive of Prevent Breast Cancer, praised Cornish as a “valued and treasured” member of the charity and noted that the MBE is an incredible honor she “completely [deserves]”​preventbreastcancer.org.uk.

Earlier in her journey, Cornish was also recognized by the UK Prime Minister’s Points of Light program. In 2015, she received the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award (the 553rd awardee) for her outstanding volunteer work founding Runway on the Runway​pointsoflight.gov.uk​pointsoflight.gov.uk. This award, presented to her by Prime Minister David Cameron at one of her Concorde fashion shows, commended Cornish for the “real difference she is making to people living with cancer in the North West”​pointsoflight.gov.uk. Cameron applauded how her event not only raised money but also celebrated “50 models whose lives have all been affected by cancer” in an inspiring way​pointsoflight.gov.uk. Upon receiving the Points of Light award, Cornish said she was “thrilled” that her work with both Teenage Cancer Trust and Maggie’s was being recognized, noting that beyond fundraising, the project’s success was measured in “non-tangible outcomes” like improved body confidence and self-esteem for the young participants​pointsoflight.gov.uk.

In addition to these honors, Cornish’s work has earned local accolades. As mentioned, her Runway on the Runway event won the North West Charity Awards prize for Best Fundraising Event in 2017​margo-cornish-pjgo.squarespace.com. Cornish has also been celebrated at regional business awards – for example, she received an Outstanding Achievement award at the Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs), which honor women in business and the community. (The Teenage Cancer Trust publicly congratulated her on this EVA win, highlighting her success as their North West Ambassador.) Each award and honor Cornish has garnered underscores the exceptional drive, creativity, and compassion she brings to her charitable endeavors.

Legacy and Ongoing Work

Margo Cornish’s personal and professional biography is defined by her relentless commitment to combating cancer through awareness and support. Over the span of more than a decade, she has built a legacy as a community leader who bridges gaps between patients, survivors, and the public. Her initiatives – from BooBee campaigns promoting breast health to runway shows that empower cancer fighters – have not only raised money but also inspired hope and action. Cornish’s approach often blends fun, education, and advocacy, making serious issues accessible and engaging to a broad audience. In recent years, she has even extended her advocacy to new media: in 2025 she helped launch the “Sex and the Titty” podcast, a series aimed at breaking down taboos around the impact of breast cancer on intimate relationships​prolificnorth.co.uk​prolificnorth.co.uk. Proceeds from the podcast support Prevent Breast Cancer and other cancer charities, reflecting Cornish’s innovative ways of furthering the cause​prolificnorth.co.uk.

As of 2025, Margo Cornish shows no signs of slowing down in her mission. She continues to serve as Patron of Prevent Breast Cancer, a board member of Maggie’s Manchester, and an ambassador for Teenage Cancer Trust – leveraging these roles to collaborate across organizations and champion a holistic fight against cancer. Through her leadership, she has helped foster a strong cancer support community in Greater Manchester, proving that grassroots initiatives can indeed achieve extraordinary outcomes. Cornish often emphasizes teamwork and community in her success, insisting that “it takes a can-do team to accomplish the dream”​preventbreastcancer.org.uk. Her story demonstrates how one individual’s passion and determination, when shared with others, can spark lasting change. From helping individuals take pride in themselves after a diagnosis, to influencing broader public health behaviors, Margo Cornish’s impact is both personal and far-reaching. She stands as an inspiring example of philanthropic dedication, and her ongoing work continues to improve and save lives through the power of prevention, support, and hope.

Sources: Margo Cornish profile and interview on Prevent Breast Cancer​preventbreastcancer.org.uk​preventbreastcancer.org.uk; Points of Light Award announcement​pointsoflight.gov.uk​pointsoflight.gov.uk; Macclesfield Nub News (James Kelly)​macclesfield.nub.news​macclesfield.nub.news; Prevent Breast Cancer news (New Year Honours 2025)​preventbreastcancer.org.uk​preventbreastcancer.org.uk; Maggie’s on the Runway reports​margo-cornish-pjgo.squarespace.com​maggiesontherunway.com; and other cited sources throughout.