Ilkley gardens become catwalks for a virtual Macmillan charity fashion show

If all the world’s a stage, then every garden most definitely has catwalk potential. And so the pretty Yorkshire town of Ilkley must be considered one of the most fashionable towns in Britain now that its residents have turned their gardens and empty streets into a runway.

It’s all in aid of a very good cause. Every May for the past 13 years, Macmillan Ilkley has held a charity fashion show at The Craiglands Hotel, raising more than £18,000 annually. Due to the lockdown, this year’s event was cancelled, leaving a huge hole in the funds the branch raises.

But volunteer model Martin Alton was not about to allow this to happen.

“It was supposed to be the day of the final rehearsal for this year’s fashion show when it really hit home with me just how much Macmillan would miss the incredible amount of funds that we raise each year at this event,” he said. “So, I decided to try and do something to help during these unprecedented times.”

Martin reckoned that, if the models could not go to the show, the show could be created by them at home, in their own gardens and streets and favourite outdoor places. He came up with the idea of asking each of them to film themselves (or get a household member to film them) strutting down their own chosen runway. Everyone filmed their own clips under lockdown and using current social distancing rules with one of three themes in mind – summer, going out after lockdown ends, or weddings. Then he put all the clips together and edited them into the fabulous Ilkley Macmillan Virtual Fashion Show.

“It is an incredible team effort each year, all of us working together for the same goal, to raise as much as we can and also have loads of fun doing it,” Martin said. “The disappointment was so apparent when the event had to be cancelled, so to have been able to produce this video, it has put a smile on everyone’s faces and hopefully some valuable funds to Macmillan Cancer Support.”

Rachel Peru has been a volunteer model for the Ilkley Macmillan Fashion Show for the past 10 years. In fact, it was through taking part in the shows that she realised she could have a career as a professional model. “Every year, my confidence has grown. People would say to me, you’re really photogenic,” she said.

Now 50, the former nursery teacher and mother-of-three lives in Addingham with her husband, Mark. Six years ago, she allowed her hair to turn grey and sent off photos to model agencies. Now she is a professional model flying across the world on fashion and lingerie shoots, breaking barriers and featuring in several high-profile TV and advertisements with the likes of JD Williams, F+F at Tesco, Panache and Figleaves. She also hosts a podcast called Out of the Bubble sharing inspiring stories from women over 40.

“The fashion show raises around £18,000 each year so you can imagine how upsetting it was to have to cancel the show this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

Volunteer model Leanne Hollins said: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy in September 2017 at the age of 41 years. Macmillan supported me through this time and for that I’m eternally grateful. Being part of the fashion show, for me, is doing my bit to say ‘thank you’ to MacMillan whilst also raising much needed money for the charity.”

Adele Burrough, Macmillan fund-
raising manager for Yorkshire, was delighted when she saw the video. “Being diagnosed with cancer is extremely tough at any time but receiving a cancer diagnosis in the midst of Covid-19 is especially difficult,” she said.

“Due to the challenging times over the past few months our income is likely to be down by 50 per cent this year, and as Macmillan is almost entirely funded by donations, we cannot continue to be there for all the people who need us without the support of the public.”

Natalie Thackray, another volunteer model, added: “Macmillan is close to my heart. Cancer stands still for no one, not even Covid, and now more than ever there are people out there needing the support of the wonderful Macmillan team. Thank you, Macmillan”

Donate at justgiving.com/fundraising/macmillanfashionshow2020

Watch the fashion show at www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdhFNTWbBDA

Stephanie Smith Twitter & Instagram @yorkshirestyleq

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