BRAVE fashionistas received a standing ovation when they strutted their stuff in a fundraising fashion show.
The 20 breast cancer patients – who are all either receiving treatment or in remission from the disease – wore the latest clothes from the retailers in The Glades shopping centre, for the shows.
They were joined on the catwalk by health workers from the Princess Royal University Hospital’s Chartwell unit, which treats cancer patients.
And at both the lunchtime and evening shows large audiences, who had paid £10 each for a seat, cheered them on enthusiastically.
The fundraising shows were the culmination of the shopping centre’s activities for breast cancer awareness fortnight, and marked the end of an 18-month stint for the Lymph Node Analyser Appeal (LNAA) as the Glades’ nominated charity.
The analyser allows patients’ results to be read on the day of biopsy, avoiding an anxious two-week wait and allowing any required lymph surgery to be completed in the same operation.
For one of this year’s models, Samantha Crinnion, a primary school headteacher from Bromley, installation of the new equipment has proved bittersweet.
The 43-year-old said: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 – before the lymph node analyser was in operation at the PRUH – and had a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy, radiotherapy and Herceptin treatment.
“The irony is that, in July of this year, the device was used on my sister.
“I never imagined I would be involved in purchasing a machine that would ultimately speed up treatment for my sister and give her a better chance of surviving this terrible disease.”
The fashion shows were introduced by Anil Desai, a consultant breast surgeon at the PRUH.
He said: “We’re absolutely delighted that the generosity of shoppers and the Glades has resulted in the original £30,000 target being exceeded.
“This and other fundraising allowed a lymph node analyser to be purchased for the PRUH in February this year, although our fight against breast cancer will go on.”
The fashion shows tipped The Glades breast cancer fundraising over £32,000.
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