Model behaviour after gruelling cancer treatment
An East Kilbride breast cancer survivor says she is still “buzzing” from the thrill of strutting the catwalk last week.
Betsy Ward took to the stage in the ‘Catwalk for Cancer’ fundraiser in Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel on Thursday night.
Last month we told you how the brave 64-year-old was forced into treatment for a second time in 2017 after again being diagnosed with breast cancer.
She was first diagnosed in 2001 and had a lumpectomy, axillary clearance of lymph nodes, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and six years of hormone therapy.
She was forced to go through the same gruelling treatment again, losing her hair and with it her confidence.
So for her to be a model in front of hundreds of people was a huge deal.
But the mother-of-three again refused to let cancer get the better of her and was delighted to be able to show-off just how great she still feels as a woman.
Betsy, from Greenhills, told us: “To be told that I had breast cancer in my other breast was devastating.
“The catwalk was exhilarating. I had been terrified to even apply for the catwalk process and really had to pluck up the courage to do so.
“But I’m really glad I did. I’m already much more confident as a result.”
Betsy was one of hundreds of breast cancer survivors to take to the stage at Glasgow’s Hilton hotel last Thursday – not just once, but three times.
She added: “We all got put up at the hotel on the Wednesday night then there was a dress rehearsal on the next morning.
“After that there was an afternoon show and an evening show. I got more confident as the time went on and by the evening I was buzzing to get on stage. But it was emotional too.”
In total, the event raised close to £200,000 for Breast Cancer Now for the charity, with Betsy, her husband Grahame, and their friends and family doing their fair share for the cause. That saw them take up a table of 10 on the night, worth around £1500.
All money raised will help the charity to continue being there for those who so desperately need their support.
Banners at the event called on the 24 women to “show grace”, “show style”, “show friendship” and “show fun”.
As well as the charity, Betsy and Grahame were vocal in their praise of the care and support available to those dealing with the disease, telling them: “There is light at the end of the tunnel”.
It was the lessons learned through her courses and the support available that led to Betsy applying for the catwalk.
She said: “Cancer has changed me but I won’t let it define me. I still have life and intend to live it to the full.”
The models were dressed in stunning outfits put together by stylist Ian Tod.
Barbara Brown, trustee for Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now, revealed that since last year’s show, the charity had responded to nearly seven million requests for help from people affected by a cancer diagnosis.
She said: “The journeys that have brought each model to this fashion show are extraordinary, helping us to understand just why the work that this charity does is so important.”