The days are ticking down to this year’s Courage on the Catwalk, and Aileen Rennie is looking forward to adding some artistic flourishes to the proceedings.
The Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen will be packed out for the event in aid of Friends of Anchor, which involves 24 models showing off some glamour on the catwalk.
Mrs Rennie works as a contracts administrator at Lawrence Milne Painters and Decorators in Ellon, where her colleagues are well accustomed to putting a gloss on things.
And it is an attitude which seems to have rubbed off on Mrs Rennie, because despite losing her sister, Sheila, to cancer at just 39 in 1999, then being diagnosed with the illness herself aged 43, she still has an upbeat, positive approach to life.
She: “You know your own body better than anybody else and I was pretty sure there was something wrong when I went to the doctor 13 years ago.
“But it was still a big shock when I was told I had rectal cancer, and that I would have to undergo radiotherapy and six sessions of chemotherapy tablets.
“I had to go into the Anchor Unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (in 2006). I simply can’t fault the treatment I received, because everybody who dealt me couldn’t have been more professional or attentive, or made sure I knew what was happening every step of the way.
“That is one of the things about getting involved with Courage on the Catwalk – attitudes are changing in how people are able to talk to one another about things which they might have kept to themselves and we are all one big family.
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“When I look back, I am very glad I went straight to the doctor, because I was diagnosed early on, and that certainly helped me. There may still be some people who are worried about bothering their GP or feeling embarrassed about getting examined, but I would always tell them: ‘Never let anything stop you from making an appointment if you think something is wrong.’ It really can make all the difference.”
She thanked her loved ones for their support throughout her illness, and said her son Wayne and work buddies have constantly offered her encouragement.
Now she is positively relishing the prospect of strutting on the catwalk at the Courage shows at the Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen on May 11 and 12.
She added: “It was a bit nerve-racking at the start, but the last few rehearsals have been a joy to take part in and although we are all different ages and from diverse backgrounds, we have a laugh and a joke, we have a blether and we can tell things to one another that we wouldn’t even tell our families.
“It’s very exciting that we are going to be taking centre stage and the assistance we have been given from all the folk behind the scenes in building up our confidence and making sure we are ready for the catwalk has been inspirational.
“It is also a terrific thing that we are helping to raise money for the new Anchor Centre, because that is going to help so many people right across the north east.
“Fingers crossed, though, that we will not need to use the new facility ourselves.”