Jordanne Atkin was having a back and neck massage during a pampering session when her gran Shelagh, a massage therapist, found a lump in her neck.
It was the start of a gruelling battle with cancer which struck her when she was just 24.
And it was an especially traumatic experience, because she later discovered she was pregnant and had to terminate her baby.
However, Miss Atkin, who will be the youngest of the 24 female models at Courage on the Catwalk at the Beach Ballroom in May, was determined the illness wouldn’t affect her upbeat attitude to life.
She said: “I had no symptoms at all, but when I called the doctor, they seemed concerned and I was given an emergency appointment.
“I was sent for multiple tests: X-rays, biopsies and blood tests. A couple of weeks later, I got a call asking me to come back in as soon as possible. I was told that day that I had Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”
That devastating call came on November 14, 2016. Three days later, she received more heartbreaking news – she was pregnant, but would have to terminate the pregnancy due to the nature of her cancer.
She added: “On November 21, I had the termination. That was the hardest part of the entire process for me, the hardest time of my life.”
In the months that followed, she travelled from her home in Inverurie to the Anchor Unit to undergo fortnightly chemotherapy sessions for six months.
Miss Atkin said: “I was very anxious about my first treatment and I was an emotional wreck, but the team in the Anchor Unit were amazing.
“They kept so calm and put me completely at ease. They were always friendly, helpful and reassuring, and with their support and the encouragement of my family and friends, I remained positive.
“I’m delighted to take part in this event to encourage and inspire those who hear my story and raise crucial funds and awareness for Friends of Anchor.”
She was given the all-clear in June last year, and immediately made the decision to embrace new challenges, including Courage on the Catwalk.
As she added: “After the diagnosis, I wanted to start ticking things off my bucket list. I’ve flown in a glider, been dog sledding in Iceland, done a freefall abseil and flown in a flexwing.
“I’m completely out of my comfort zone taking part in Courage, I’m more at home jumping out of a plane. But I’m really enjoying the experience; I’m getting on so well with the other models.
“It’s a good excuse to raise awareness and I’m looking forward to hearing other peoples’ stories and getting to know them better. I’m hoping to build my confidence too.”
She has extra reason to celebrate, because her boyfriend Marc proposed to her during a weekend away for her birthday last month. And Miss Atkin has also launched a new post-cancer support group which meets monthly in Inverurie.
For those facing a cancer diagnosis, she has an uplifting message – keep positive.
She added: “The staff at the Anchor Unit are so supportive and make it so much easier to keep a positive outlook. Life still exists after a cancer diagnosis.”
The event
Now in its sixth year, Courage on the Catwalk 2018 takes place on May 12 and 13 at the Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen.
The 24 ladies taking to the runway in the professional catwalk show will be styled and coached by Gail Rose and her team at Premiere Productions.
Organised by Friends of Anchor, the event will raise money for oncology and haematology care in the NHS Grampian area and Orkney and Shetland.
Every penny goes direct to the cause, which covers research, medical equipment and patient wellbeing.
The event has raised more than £472,000 since it was established.
If you would like to donate a raffle prize for the event, e-mail the Friends of Anchor team on foa.admin@friendsofanchor.org.
