We're encouraging men and women who have faced, or are currently facing, a cancer or haematology diagnosis to apply for our annual catwalk fundraising events, Brave and Courage on the Catwalk.
The events, which welcome an audience of 550 per show, raise vital funds for local cancer and haematology care. For the third year, the money raised will go towards the charity’s ANCHORED Together appeal – a campaign to raise £2m for The ANCHOR Centre, set to open later this year.
Professionally styled and trained by the production and model agency Premiere Productions UK, models will be well looked after, with professional photographers and film crew documenting the once in a lifetime experience too.
Charity director Sarah-Jane Hogg said: “Courage on the Catwalk and Brave are so much more than fashion shows; they allow us to recognise and celebrate individuals from our region, sharing their stories to inspire and instil hope in others. Through our line-up of 24 men and 24 women, we seek to create two groups that are representative of the breadth of lives affected by a diagnosis in the North-east.
“We are not looking for confident, catwalk-ready men and women; we are on the search for everyday people who have faced the reality of a diagnosis. The chances are high that the thought of strutting on a catwalk makes many people nervous, but our professional coaches from Premiere Productions are with the models every step of the way to help them feel as fantastic as their loved ones know they are.”
This year will mark the ninth Courage on the Catwalk event, although it is now a decade since the first 24 models graced the stage in 2012. The events will take place at the Beach Ballroom on Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7.
Brave, the ‘brother’ event of Courage on the Catwalk, will be on Thursday and Friday, May 4 and 5. Ticket sales will be announced at a later date, with table and balcony tickets available for purchase.
The shows will enable participants and audiences the opportunity to play a part in raising crucial funds for The ANCHOR Centre; a purpose-built oncology and haematology out-patient care facility. The first of its kind in Scotland, the Centre is set to open later this year, on the Foresterhill health campus in Aberdeen.
To date, we've raised over £1.6m towards our £2m fundraising goal. This funding will pay for additional extras within the Centre, including a dedicated, spa-like complementary therapy room where our Wellbeing Team will provide relaxing, holistic therapies for people receiving treatment. Treatment chairs and other equipment used by patients and staff, including teaching equipment, will be upgraded thanks to the funding, with the best-available chosen.
With art installations in the pipeline too, the funding will enhance the atmosphere for the 65,000 people who will receive treatment each year. The charity will also operate a welcome team service to help ease patients into each visit, and a café facility and gardening team will be manned by volunteers too.
Every penny raised through the event will go towards this appeal as Friends of ANCHOR’s operational costs are covered by local firm Balmoral Group, while event sponsors ensure the fees are taken care of.
Friends of ANCHOR and Balmoral Group Chairman, Sir Jim Milne added: “Courage and Brave are two events that hold a very special place for us, and they’ve become a much-anticipated date in the North-east event calendar. The models who take part inspire and encourage so many in our region and beyond as they share their own personal and collective experiences. We hope the people of the North-east will help us spread the word about these events so we can see another great line-up take to the stage once again.”
To apply to be in this year’s model line-up for Brave or Courage on the Catwalk, or to nominate a friend or family member for these special shows, please contact us on 01224 859170 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Model applications will close on Monday, February 6.