Sophie Anderton on donating her wedding gown for charity

Finding a wedding dress that can do it all is quite the task. Classic for the ceremony, comfortable for the long day ahead, fun for dancing and room for a food baby after all that cake, a good wedding dress is a multitasker.

But for model Sophie Anderton, her wedding dress is going on to do even more, for so many people.

After marrying husband Kaz Balinksi last year, the star has decided to donate her wedding dress to raise money for ARC Cancer Support. On this morning's Jennifer Zamparelli Show, Jen spoke to the model and designer, Helen Cody, about the inspiring project.

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It was a rocky road to get to the alter, Sophie recalls, as she had to postpone no less than four times. "We were meant to get married the week before, and I had to move it by a week so one of the children who had tonsilitis could actually be at the wedding", she told Jen.

"We had a big storm the night before so I woke up to the marquees being shredded across the front lawn. Suddenly, Helen was there... and the sun came out."

Helen and Sophie years ago, when Sophie was back and forth to Ireland for lingerie shoots. A long-time admirer of Helen's, Sophie would do shoots on Instagram wearing pieces she'd bought from the designer, and before long they were Instagram mutuals.

Cut to sometime around the first lockdown in 2020 and Sophie made the fateful trip out to Helen's showroom to look at wedding gowns. "I remember being in Helen's showroom and I was just like, oh my god. The intricacy, the beauty, of every single one of Helen's designs, it just blew my mind. I knew there and then."

For Helen, working with the model was a dream come true: "Everything fits her beautifully, so coming into the studio and trying on the samples, it was all very joyous and happy.

"There was just one [dress] that really stood out to both of us. We both said, it's right for what you're doing, it's right for where you're getting married", Helen recalled. "It's a beautiful French Calais lace dress with a very light slip underneath. Super flattering but also very fresh."

Once the wedding day had come and gone, Sophie says she got to thinking about the fate of her gown. "I'm not sentimental, I have the memories of my wedding day and that's really all I need. I thought it was a shame for such a beautiful creation to be collecting dust."

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Helen stepped in with a possible solution: "I told Sophie about my relationship with ARC, with ARC Cancer, the incredible work they do. She was bawling crying when I was telling her about my own cancer treatment. I'm well again, this is a good story, this is a positive story."

Together, they decided to create a lotto for the wedding gown, giving another bride the chance to wear the stunning creation.

Helen had cancer in 2018, during which she underwent "horrific" chemotherapy treatment. Bu round four, she thought she had reached her limit.

"It was round four of chemo and I went into my oncologist and I said, nope, I'm pulling the plug on all of this. I'm just going to see what happens. And she very wisely looked at me and said, your white blood cell count is on the floor. Take a week off, take a rest, make an appointment to get counselling in ARC Cancer Support."

Helen got counselling for herself and her husband too through the charity, and says they have an open door policy in the support centre providing all kinds of alternative therapies.

"It's just lovely to be able to give something back", she said.

To be in with a chance to win, go onto the ARC Cancer Support website where you can pay €50 for a ticket for the lottery. The winner will be invited to Helen's studio where she will alter the dress to either fit any size between a 6 and a 10. They will also receive a framed illustration of the dress.

As Sophie added: "The last year has been tough on everyone, but especially on these amazing charities."

Listen back to Jen's full chat with Sophie and Helen here.