Every year the Catwalk for a Cause fashion show acts as a brilliant fundraiser for Highland Hospice as well as giving a platform for those who have experienced – or are still going through – the cancer journey, whether as sufferers themselves or as friends or family as those who have endured it.
Spearheaded by owner of Inverness salon The Head Gardener, Alison McRitchie, it’s a night of tears but also hope as those at the sharp end get to shine as models for a night while also sharing their moving and inspiring stories. This year will be no exception as 12 amateur models get ready to strut their stuff.
Over the next four weeks we will be sharing the stories of these inspiring individuals.
Amber Price and Elaine Smith have supported each other through their cancer journeys, and will be taking part in Catwalk For A Cause 2025 together too.
Amber Price and Elaine Smith
Amber and Elaine met when their children went to the same school, and bonded through their mutual breast cancer journeys.
They were able to lean on each other and support each other through treatment, and the underlying mental health issues that come along with it.
It feel quite appropriate, then, that they are taking on the catwalk together too to try and build their own confidence – and show that there can be life after cancer.
“When I was going through treatment I felt like I was losing my identity,” 40-year-old Elaine, an early years practitioner, explained.
“One of my first questions was ‘am I going to lose my hair?’ I just knew that would be such a change for me, because it was always my safety net, so to speak.
“The emotional and mental aspect of it continues even now. I remember when I was going through treatment, you just want it to be over with, but what I didn’t anticipate was that the treatment was the easy bit.
“Afterwards everyone thinks you should be celebrating, but I felt so vulnerable and scared that something might come back.
“That was a big drive for me to do Catwalk For A Cause – I almost want to put myself in situations where I can take control back of that vulnerability.
“I think that doing something that is quite glamorous after being through something that is anything but will be incredibly empowering, and feel pretty awesome.”
Events co-ordinator Amber, 37, added: “I do actually feel more confident in myself, but it has taken a long time. I don’t think the aftermath of having cancer is spoken about very often to be honest.
“I’ve had a lot of mental health issues to deal with, and I’m also still on the waiting list for reconstructive surgery, so there’s a lot I have to think about with self-image and confidence.
“People tend to be there for you at the beginning, but then not so much afterwards. I know it’s a difficult thing for people to deal with, and Maggies’ have been great with helping my family deal with it, but I think people think that once you’ve got over the main treatment you will be fine all of a sudden.
“It’s not like that at all. It can take years to recover from it, because it’s intense on your body and your mind.
“This is something positive to do and something to focus on. It will be really nice to meet other people as well who have life-limiting illnesses, and with the camaraderie it’s a really nice event to take part in.
“I’m excited, and nervous. I think it’s going to be a really fun night, and me and Elaine are just going to live it up and strut our stuff.
“It’s going to be a good night I think. It will be emotional as well, and there will be a lot of stories that are difficult to hear, but it’s important to hear them as well.”
Lucus Macrae
The final-year Alness Academy pupil is the youngest person taking part in Catwalk for a Cause this year, and also knows all about self-image issues.
Lucus was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at nine years old, which at various points throughout his schooling has left him needing nasogastric tubes.
He wants to join the police force one day, but in the meantime is shining a spotlight on the impact Crohn’s can have on young people through Catwalk for a Cause.
“In primary school, I had a tube in my nose, and I think in S2 I had it in again,” the teenager recalled.
“Quite a few people at school knew me for having a tube in my nose, which wasn’t great, but I overcame it and I’m way happier now.
“Everyone seeing me so openly at one of the lowest points in my life was an experience. I got a lot of questions, and it makes you a bit of a target for bullying, but I overcame that quite easily.
“I think this will be something good for me and my confidence. That’s how I’m looking at it, and raising money for such an important organisation as Highland Hospice.”