We've revealed our lineup of 24 brave men who will take to the stage for a modelling experience with a difference in May.
Brave 2023 will see the local men strut their stuff for Friends of ANCHOR.
Each gent taking part has faced a cancer or haematology diagnosis at some point in their life, whether they are still receiving treatment, living with their diagnosis or sharing their hope in receiving the all-clear.
Sarah-Jane Hogg, charity Director, said: “It was really wonderful to meet our Brave models for the first time on Wednesday and we’re looking forward to the next 10 weeks as the men prepare for their catwalk debut with support from the Friends of ANCHOR team and our event partner Premiere Productions UK.
“Each year with Brave we see the guys taking part smash the taboo that men don’t talk about their feelings. The brotherhood that’s created by the event gives the gents a support group to share their experiences, and we see them lean into that wholeheartedly, while also embracing the real element of fun that accompanies Brave.
“The atmosphere in the Beach Ballroom on our two show days is electric, but it’s an extremely poignant event too. We look forward to seeing what kind of show this year’s models put on.”
The line-up is a diverse group of men from all walks of life – living across the North-East from Banff to Balmedie, aged 18 to 75. The group represents a range of cancer types, with many of them at different stages throughout their treatment and diagnosis. The diversity in the range of models allows the event to show the breadth and scale of lives affected by a diagnosis.
The event is well and truly loved by Aberdeen, having launched in 2017 as the ‘brother’ event to Courage on the Catwalk, which has been on the go since 2013. The event will return to the Beach Ballroom on Thursday May 4 and May 5, where those attending can enjoy a night of electric atmosphere and live entertainment.
Every penny raised celebrating the men’s bravery will go directly to the Friends of ANCHOR’s, ‘Anchored Together’ appeal to raise £2m for the opening of The ANCHOR Centre later this year, a specialised cancer and haematology facility.
The gents will be busy in the lead up to their modelling debut as the team at Premiere Productions UK will be choreographing, training and styling each of them, thanks to partnerships with clothing retailers. This preparation gives the models a chance to find their dance moves and get suited and booted for the spotlight.
With the line-up now revealed, the shows will welcome hundreds more audience members as family and friends turn out to support the models. Tickets are on sale to the public on Wednesday March 1 via Eventbrite. People wishing to purchase should visit www.friendsofanchor.org/index.php/events/brave for more information
Every penny raised at the event will go to the cause thanks to event sponsors who ensure costs are covered: major corporate partners James Jamieson Construction, Taylors Industrial Services and John Clark Motor Group, and corporate partners W M Donald and Simmers. As Friends of ANCHOR’s operating costs are covered by locally headquartered firm Balmoral Group, guests can rest assured their generosity will make a direct difference in the North-east of Scotland.