WATCH: 'I am carrying on and seizing every opportunity' – Inverness woman with incurable lung cancer shares journey ahead of catwalk
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An Inverness woman said her family and positive attitude are what keep her going as she battles with an incurable form of lung cancer.
Born and raised in Inverness, Lynn Gilchrist (64) was diagnosed with stage three lung cancer and an inflamed lymphoma in 2022 – after her return from a family holiday.
The taxi firm manager, who has three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren will be one of the models taking part to Catwalk for a Cause, an event run by the Highland Hospice and the Head Gardener as a platform for brave individuals to share their story of living with cancer or other life-limiting illness.
Lynn was nominated – unbeknownst to her – for the event by one of her daughters.
"I would have taken part in any case if she had asked me," she said.
"The Highland Hospice has always been my first chosen charity, and one that everyone in the Highlands will be touched by – whether for themselves or for someone they know.
"I have not required their services yet – but it’s inevitable that I will require the hospice services somewhere down the line.
"So if I had to pick a place where to go, that would be the hospice."
Family life has kept her busy since her diagnosis, however at first her time was mainly dedicated to her husband, Brian (65), who was diagnosed with dementia about a year before she received her diagnosis and has been living in a care home for around a year.
"When I was first told of my diagnosis, the very first thought was 'Oh goodness, who is going to look after my husband?' and the second was 'oh my god, what an awful job this poor woman got!'.
"The hardest part was to tell the family and worrying about the children's reaction and my husband in the future, that was hard."
However, Lynn said that despite all odds, her treatment – including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy – is going well and hasn't affected her too much.
"I even went to Edinburgh to buy a wig, and in the end I didn't lose my hair! I feel I am very lucky in that aspect."
Despite the challenges, she is tackling every day with a positive mindset.
She said: "I've carried on walking, golfing, socialising and living life at any opportunity in general. You know, there is nothing that you can do – you can't change it."
Lynn is now getting ready to take on the catwalk this weekend.
"I am feeling a mixture of excitement and being a little bit of nervous – but I guess that everyone will be!
"It was great to meet everyone at the fitting. They are all lovely people and you could feel we are all on the same boat, feeling nervous ahead of the catwalk.
"Everyone who is running it is so lovely – I am really looking forward to it!"
Catwalk for a Cause is set to return to the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on Saturday, February 10. Tickets cost £60 per person or £720 for a table of 12.
