She has an abundance of customers who have enjoyed her food offerings from a van in Aberdeen.
But after receiving a cancer diagnosis at the age of 42 two years ago, Gillian Hadden admits her world turned upside down.
In 2016, the self-employed businesswoman found a lump in her breast and subsequent tests revealed it was a deep tissue tumour, whose cancerous cells had spread to her lymph nodes and liver.
She said: “It was a whirlwind. When I was first diagnosed, I went into emotional turmoil.”
During an initial visit to Ward 310 in the Anchor Unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, she was as scared and apprehensive as one might expect in the circumstances.
But she soon overcame her fear thanks to the support of her son Josh, who accompanied her for every treatment, and the nurses who cared for her with unstinting dedication.
There and then, Ms Hadden resolved that cancer wasn’t going to get the better of her. She continued working at her hot food van, Big Baps on Craigshaw Road, which she has owned and operated for the past six years.
She added: “Working gave me the drive I needed. I didn’t feel I had to tell anyone, I could be at the van and just be me.
“My colleague Martin has been a huge strength to me and a close friend assisted when I wasn’t quite up to working some days.”
She was equally adamant she didn’t want sympathy, and decided to focus her mind on fundraising efforts to give something back to Friends of Anchor.
And she has since raised £2,000 through bacon roll runs and collection cans at her van, and by hosting a strawberry-themed garden party at her home.
Ms Hadden, who is collecting donations for Courage on the Catwalk through sponsorship forms at her burger van and on her online fundraising page, said: “The biggest part [of the catwalk show] for me is fundraising.
“I absolutely love rehearsals. I went to the show last year with friends who had encouraged me to apply, but the timing wasn’t right for me.
“I want to promote the positive side of living with cancer, because there is one. We can all still feel good and look good.
“My outlook on life has changed hugely. I used to worry too much, but now I enjoy every single moment. I take part in mindfulness which has taught me to appreciate everything, and I’m a much happier person than I was before.”
Her two sons, Josh and Kieran, and her partner Graham have been by her side throughout her illness and continue to be a source of strength to her as she attends the Anchor Unit for treatment.
She said: “My sister Theresa has always been there for me with encouraging words and little surprises as I achieved each mini-goal.
“I’m lucky to have an amazing network of family and friends and the support of Friends of Anchor which has been invaluable.
“The wellbeing team in the Anchor Unit along with the nursing staff deserve huge praise. I hope all my friends, family and customers dig deep to support my Courage on the Catwalk fundraising.”
