From Buckshaw Village to Mayfair: Cancer survivor to strut her stuff on London catwalk

A cancer survivor will become a catwalk model for the day after sending in a less than glam audition picture of herself dressed in an anorak and hiking boots.

Sixty one-year-old Michelle Tennant will be one of only 11 models from throughout the UK to show off top branded womenswear at London’s Mayfair hotel on Saturday.

The glitzy event organised by ovarian cancer charity Overcome is the latest milestone in her fight back to fitness.

Grandmother Michelle, from Buckshaw Village, was operated on nearly three years ago after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

What followed was a long fightback to fitness and Saturday’s event is an opportunity to seal her victory over the disease.

But her audition picture to take part in the event didn’t involve her donning a designer frock.

Instead, it was an image that represented the day she finally believed she had conquered cancer.

Mum-of-one Michelle explained: “When I was undergoing chemo, it was so brutal that sometimes I couldn’t get to my own front door.

“I hadn’t been to the hairdresser, I wasn’t wearing any make-up in the picture. It was taken on a day when I was out in the car with my husband Frank and we went past Green Man hill and I asked him to stop.

“During my treatment, it had been an ambition of mine to climb the hill. It’s not exactly a mountain but I thought it would be a sign if I was getting better.

“So, we walked to the top of the hill and I had my picture taken and that’s the one I sent to Overcome because it was so important to me and represented by road to recovery.

“When I heard about auditions for the fashion show, I said ‘that’s the picture I’m sending in’.

“All the family tried to talk me out of it, but I was determined and I couldn’t believe it when I heard back that I was one of only 11 people to be accepted for the fashion show. I still can’t believe it now.”

Now Michelle wants women to be aware of the signs of ovarian cancer.

In her case, it started with fatigue and a loss of appetite. However, at the time she was balancing a busy career working for a domestic abuse charity with caring for her mother Doreen who she described as her “biggest supporter” during her cancer battle.

“One day I was at the gym and a few days later, I couldn’t get off the sofa,” said Michelle.

“Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed when it is too late, but I was persuaded to go and see my GP.

“I am a firm believer in the saying that the body “whispers before it screams”. I felt very tired all the time and had night sweats.

“Originally I put it down to the menopause. We were due to go on holiday to Spain for 10 days, the day after my trip to the doctor but, after examining me, he said there was no way I was fit to travel overseas.

“I was sent for blood tests at Chorley Hospital and the next day my GP kept the surgery open after hours to tell me that the marker for ovarian cancer in my blood was very high.

“He also said I had a mass in my abdomen and “something is very wrong”.

She was sent to a hospital appointment in Preston where a bowel blockage was ruled out.

Michelle was then referred to another clinic where it was decided she needed to remove the tumour on one of her ovaries.

Following the op on November 15, 2023, Michelle has been on the long road to recovery.

Michelle still needs to have regular blood tests, but her appearance on the catwalk will demonstrate how she is firmly on the road to recovery.

unfortunately, her mother didn’t live long enough to see her daughter take star billing at a London fashion show.

Michelle said: “My mum was my greatest supporter when I had cancer.

“She used to say to me ‘promise me you will live’. She was with me during the time I had the operation and the chemo.

“I am sad that she won’t be there on Saturday, but she had a great life and lived life to the full and will always be remembered.”

Michelle also pays tribute to the NHS services at Preston and Chorley hospitals and the support she received from the Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

“The NHS comes in for a lot of criticism, but I can’t fault any of the care I received, from the first visit to my GP to all the staff at Preston Hospital who kept my spirits up,” she said.

“It’s thanks to the fantastic care and compassion from NHS doctors, nurses and all the other people who saved my life, that a middle aged woman from Chorley is going to be showing off on a catwalk in London.

“My motto during treatment was always ‘be bold and trust the team’ and that’s what I’ve done. I tried to remain positive throughout the treatment and that is what has helped to see me through to where I am now.”

Michelle will be modelling clothes from retailer John Lewis at the show, including wedding guest and evening dress outfits.

She will also wear traditional Ghanian clothes in honour of Lady Adele Sewell, Overcome’s patron.

The event - dubbed a Touch of Teal, Overcome’s signature colour, will be attended by supporter, celebrities and charity workers.

“I hope the show will be a chance to cheer Lancashire people on,” said Michelle.

“I am proud of where I come from and what I have achieved over the last few difficult years. The Cancer to Catwalk show will be a chance for all of us who have suffered this terrible cancer to celebrate life and how precious it is.

“It will be a tribute to all the fantastic health workers, doctors and nurses who kept me alive to enable me to do something that I never dreamed I would.”