Skip to content
Patients and carers strutted their stuff on a catwalk at East Cheshire Hospice.
The Hospice’s motor neurone disease group were the fashion show models.
A glass of fizz and afternoon tea added to the occasion at the Sunflower Living Well Centre.
The models – some in wheelchairs – put aside health concerns to parade in clothes borrowed from the Hospice’s shop in Knutsford.
Co-organiser Jill Harding, a long-serving health care assistant, said: “They’re a special group of incredible people and so brave.
Elsa and Brian West take to the catwalk.
“MND is a one-way street. Around a dozen members at varying stages of the disease meet here monthly.
“They’re such a happy, fun bunch and support each other. I thought the aisle in the middle of the room would make a good catwalk and it all went from there.
“We didn’t know how it’d go. We’d never done anything like that before, but everyone joined in.
“One or two weren’t sure initially but by the end we couldn’t get them off stage. Some also bought items modelled.”
The MND sessions, led by senior physio Alice Waterhouse, cover different topics related to the condition.
Michael Kitton and Bernadette Bailey model clothes at the fashion show.
Other charities have visited the Hospice to find out why their wellbeing days are so successful.
Jill said: “We spend an hour on a chosen subject bef0re volunteers, who tend to be ex-Hospice employees, accompany the carers who talk about matters they might not otherwise discuss in front of loved ones.
“Meanwhile, patients have treatments such as reflexology, a massage, or use the VR headsets.
“Newcomers are made to feel welcome. Coming here for the first time can be daunting.
“People don’t know what to expect. Some say they’re frightened visiting somewhere with the word Hospice in it.
Elizabeth Kitton (left) and Jan Gates get into the spirit of the fashion show.
“A few patients are reluctant to attend the MND group. They may send loved ones instead which is fine.
“The MND group can see each other declining, but they keep each other buoyed up. They’re amazing.”
MND patient Brian West and wife Elsa took part in the fashion show which raised £300.
Brian said: “I’d never done anything like that before, but when you realise you haven’t got that many days left, you think, ‘Why not just go for it?’
“I think it’s the same with everyone else. The fashion show was great fun. We even did a twirl on the catwalk.”