Friends star donates handbag to fundraising campaign

A challenge to wear charity shop clothes every day for a year has caught the attention of Hollywood star Courteney Cox.

The Friends and Scream actor heard about Caroline Jones' Knickers Model's Own campaign and gifted a Yves Saint Laurent bag from her personal collection to complement the fundraiser's second-hand wardrobe.

Ms Jones, 57, from Harpenden, first did her challenge in 2015 in memory of her mother Mary Benson, who died from breast cancer.

She wore clothes from charity shops for 365 days and posted her outfits on social media. This year she is doing it all again to mark the 10th anniversary.

In a social media post in which Cox throws the black bag to Ms Jones, the actor said that the accessory had appeared at "quite a few events" over the years.

Cox added she thought the campaign was "incredible" and "would like to be a part of it".

Ms Jones said making the film was "a pinch-me moment".

"It goes without saying that when Courteney asked to be involved, I jumped at the opportunity," she said.

"It's a sign of her generosity and it means a lot.

"It's almost like a dream to be incorporating her beloved YSL bag into my second-hand outfit."

Mrs Benson, who died in 2014, was a volunteer at the Cancer Research UK shop in Harpenden.

"The shop and the charity meant so much to my mum and it's in her memory that that the Knickers Model's Own campaign was born," Ms Jones said.

"It helped me through my grief, as well as sharing my passion for styling second-hand with the world. The generosity of every single donor was extraordinary - and I felt the love and kindness of the community around me, spurring me on."

To mark a decade since the campaign, which raised £69,000, Ms Jones committed to another year of second-hand styling in 2025.

She has decided to use Cox's bag to raise more awareness of the campaign and to that end will give it away in a free prize draw that will be open for 12 days from 1 December.

She added that having such a big celebrity involved was "a gold dust moment".

"I really hope it elevates my campaign – it's an amazing way to finish the year and I hope that people get involved.

"Since my first challenge, too many close friends and family have suffered with cancer - that's why I chose to mark 10 years since my original challenge by taking on a second attempt.

"It goes without saying that my knickers are still very much my own."

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