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Press and Journal
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Emily Findlay's cancer journey, and her 'incredible' family and friends who rallied in hardest times
Emily Findlay still remembers her teenage years in Orkney when it seemed that everybody across the island was helping her through her cancer journey. After being diagnosed with neuroblastoma at 14, the youngster from Orphir was forced to endure years of gruelling treatment, but she has never had to do it alone. Right from the outset, her family and friends were with her on every step of a marathon trek as she travelled to Aberdeen for treatment and eventually settled in the city. Emily is now 29 and plans to get married to her partner, Mark, next September. In the intervening period, she has become one of the region's most inspirational characters. She took part in Courage on the Catwalk for Friends of Anchor and worked assiduously for the Archie Foundation and Befriend a Child. She has organised supercar days out for families who have either a child or parent with a chronic or terminal illness. And she even baked cookies to boost the charity coffers in the middle of lockdown. Having witnessed the impact and importance of the third sector in her adopted city, Emily is now in charge of organising the Celebrate Aberdeen parade in August. She insists that none of this would have happened without the support of her parents, Michelle and Clinton, and her little brother, Max. But that's only the start of her list. There are also the myriad doctors, nurses and medical staff whose expertise was – and remains – invaluable in guiding her through the toughest days. And the friends she made during her early life and after her relocation to Aberdeen. Emily told me: 'I loved growing up in Orkney, it gave me such an incredible childhood. 'When I was younger, I was barely in the house at the weekends and during the school holidays, I was always out playing with friends. 'I also spent a lot of my childhood travelling around the outer islands, and spent a lot of summers in Westray, which I absolutely adored. 'The scenery, the beaches, the walks and the wildlife are amazing there. 'I especially loved watching the puffins on our after-dinner walks. The Orkney community is so incredible, they rallied around me and my family when I was unwell. 'When I relapsed for the first time, [local artist and businesswoman] Sheila Fleet decided she wanted to design a range of jewellery where a percentage of the profits would go to a fund to support me if I needed treatment abroad. 'It was incredible how well supported the collection was, and every teen/young woman in Orkney had a Daisy for Emily. It was really special. 'That collection is now called Daises at Dawn and has raised money for numerous charities. I still have friends in Orkney, they are all wonderful people, and I wish that I got to see them more.' Emily is pragmatic about her health situation. It can be fragile and, in her case, there are no guarantees her illness will not return. Scans and tests are part of her existence. Yet, as she maintains, there is no value in sitting around, waiting for bad news to arrive, as if you have prematurely checked into life's departure lounge. And, as you might anticipate from this vivacious force of nature, she is offering 100% commitment to her task of saluting the city's voluntary organisations this summer. She said: 'Celebrate Aberdeen [on August 23] means so much to me and our team. 'It's all about bringing our community together and shining a light on the amazing work done by third sector organisations and volunteers across the city. 'With everything getting more expensive and funding and corporate support harder to come by, it's more important than ever to support these organisations. 'The event gives them the opportunity to be celebrated, to feel the support of the crowds lining the streets, and be part of something truly special. 'Both the parade and the Celebrate Aberdeen awards remind us how important these organisations are to the people of Aberdeen – in fact, they are the heart of Aberdeen. 'I love it when charities work together and we have so many instances of cross organisational working, such as the Fairer Aberdeen Fund. 'It's amazing what we can achieve when we work together. That's what Celebrate Aberdeen is all about; people coming together, cheering each other on, and showing just how much we can achieve when we work as one.' You wouldn't guess from meeting her that Emily has been seriously ill for half of her life. But when she embarks on a new challenge, she pours her heart and soul into it. That's one of the reasons why she was honoured with a BEM when she was just 22 in 2018. As she told me: 'I have met so many amazing people down the years.' And they mean the world to her. She said: 'My family, my friends and my fiance are so important to me. Luckily, my mum and dad and my brother visit Aberdeen very regularly, so I see them often. 'My friends are the most incredible group of people, they have rallied around me during the hardest times, and I am so so grateful for them. 'My four bridesmaids – Ceilidh, Adele, Rachael and Breige – are just utterly amazing and I don't know what I would do without them. 'I met them all at different stages in my life, but they are all so special to me. 'My friends' children also mean the world to me, I love being fun Auntie Emily, our 'Auntie Chi Chi' as Rachael's daughter calls me. 'I can't put into words how special it is to be in their lives. 'Last but certainly not least is my fiance, Mark, he is truly the best thing that has ever happened to me and I can't wait to get married to him. 'But I am going to stop there before I get too gushy.' Her music tastes are more Taylor Swift than Tin Pan Alley, so it's unlikely that Emily has any Bing Crosby CDs lurking in her collection. Yet, whenever I talk to her, I'm reminded of one of the old White Christmas crooner's collaborations with The Andrews Sisters. The lyrics run: 'You got to accentuate the positive, Eliminate the negative, And latch on to the affirmative, Don't mess with Mr Inbetween.' That is Emily Findlay in a nutshell. Further information about Celebrate Aberdeen can be found at their website Meet the 3 generations of Harray Potters casting their spell on Orkney Michies Pharmacy: Meet the family behind the iconic chemist Misty Isle Boat Trips: The multi-generational Skye family business, ages 11 to 75
Press and Journal
07-05-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
Brave and Courage return: 48 cancer survivors join the north-east's most inspiring club
This week at P&J Live in Aberdeen, 24 men and 24 women from across the north-east will join a very special club. Over four nights — the men on Thursday and Friday and the women on Saturday and Sunday — they will take to the stage for the pair of annual fundraising fashion shows organised by Aberdeen cancer charity Friends of Anchor. The club already has hundreds of members. Brave, which is the men's show, began in 2017, while the women's edition, Courage on the Catwalk, started even earlier in 2013. But membership to this exclusive set comes at a price. To gain admission, you need to have had a cancer diagnosis. 'It's a thank you,' explains Allen Shaw, 52, from Cults, who is part of this year's Brave show. 'It's for my wife, my daughters, my friends — the people who held everything together when I couldn't.' From Beach Ballroom to P&J Live Brave and Courage on the Catwalk are now among the most high-profile charity events in the north-east calendar. What began as a modest fundraiser at Aberdeen's Beach Ballroom has grown into a major production at P&J Live, with lights, music, choreography and an audience of more than 1,000 at each show. Courage on the Catwalk at P&J Live last year. Image: Darrell Benns/DC Thomson Last year alone, the events raised £360,000 for Friends of Anchor, helping to fund cancer research, improve patient wellbeing and support clinical care across the north-east. Allen is typical of the people who take part in Brave and Courage — each with a story that's entirely their own, yet united by their determination to face cancer head-on. An inspector with the Scottish Police Federation, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2022 after he experienced numbness in his fingers and severe back pain, symptoms he initially chalked up to age and his rugby-playing days. Scans revealed a shadow on his lung. At first, doctors suspected lung cancer and Allen and his wife Kate, a specialist breast cancer nurse practitioner, were told it could be terminal. Allen Shaw at home in Cults. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson 'That moment… we genuinely thought I might have six months left,' he says. 'I was lying on the sofa, unable to walk, doing flashcards with my daughter while she studied for exams. We didn't tell our girls for weeks. I didn't want to distract them or scare them.' What Courage and Brave do for their stars Now in remission after six months of chemotherapy, Allen says taking part in Brave has been a hugely positive part of his recovery. He's embraced the experience wholeheartedly, from the loud group chats with his fellow Brave models to choosing a pink-accented suit that he jokes makes him look 'like the man from Del Monte.' 'The camaraderie is amazing. We're all different – some of the guys are in remission, some are still undergoing treatment, some are palliative – but we get each other. You don't have to explain what you've been through.' The stars of Brave 2024 at the P&J Live last May. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson And when he steps out on stage on Thursday night, a newly-minted member of the Brave and Courage club, he'll be surrounded by people who know exactly how he feels. 'On the night, when we're doing it, it'll be, 'We're here, boys, we've done it',' he says. 'We've come together and we've made it.' Applications to take part in Brave and Courage next year are now open. Click here to register your interest.
Press and Journal
03-05-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
Beechgrove Garden 'Agony Aunt' Evelyn Wood takes on Courage on the Catwalk in 'bonus year'
For Evelyn Wood, this is a 'bonus year,' and she is determined to make the most of it. The 87-year-old was diagnosed with high-grade non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphoma in 2021, and doctors believed treatment would give her three more years. But four years on, Evelyn is still living her life to the full. She embraces every day, spending time with loved ones, and is kept busy making outfits for Highland dancers or answering questions on Beechgrove Garden. The pensioner, who now lives in Old Aberdeen, also likes to challenge herself. Last year, she climbed Bennachie, which was once a favourite walk of hers, and now she is preparing to take on Courage on the Catwalk. The fundraising fashion show at P&J Live in Aberdeen will be a chance for her to give something back to Friends of Anchor. She also hopes it will give others hope, encouraging them to 'make the most of today'. She spent 30 years working at the blood transfusion centre at ARI, and only retired in 2020 due to Covid. At the end of the year, Evelyn's heart went out of rhythm, and an ambulance was called. While in A&E, she pointed out a little lump on her armpit — it had been there for a while, but it wasn't sore and didn't bother her. A chest x-ray came back clear, but a urine test wasn't. At first, they thought it was a UTI, and she was put on a course of antibiotics. After her medication finished, she still 'wasn't right' and another round was prescribed. But early in 2021, she 'quite suddenly' noticed swelling on one side of her body. 'The lump in my armpit grew bigger, and my leg was immense,' she said matter-of-factly. 'So I thought: 'Ah, I know what's wrong with me, I just don't know where'.' She called her doctor on Friday afternoon and had her bloods taken the same day. On Saturday morning, the GP called from his home to deliver the news that she had lymphoma, but reassured her that it was 'treatable'. The then 82-year-old was admitted to the Anchor Unit within days. She was given 'the best room', looking out over the blood transfusion centre. Because this was during Covid, she was not allowed any visitors — not even her husband George — and instead would watch from her window to spot any cars belonging to her friends heading to work. The room was a space where she felt 'safe and cared for' thanks to all the staff. Evelyn spent 10 days in the Anchor Unit and celebrated her 83rd birthday there, even receiving a present from Friends of Anchor to mark the day. She 'made the most' of her hospital stay, appreciating everything the charity did to boost her spirits and look after her. 'It was like I was on holiday,' she laughed. 'I didn't have to cook or anything, just be positive.' When she wasn't getting various tests or treatment, she carried on answering questions for Beechgrove Garden fans and knitting for the antenatal baby unit. Unfortunately, it was while staying in the Anchor Unit that Evelyn was told she had an 'aggressive' form of lymphoma called non-Hodgkin T-cell. Her consultant said that while he couldn't cure her, treatment could give her three more years. Evelyn says her age helped her accept the diagnosis, never stopping to ask 'why me?' she just wanted to 'get on with it'. 'I've been very lucky, until now,' she added. 'But your luck has to run out at some point.' Six months after her first successful round of chemo, she discovered lumps on her neck. Evelyn had to go through another more aggressive chemo, but had to stop after four sessions because it started affecting her kidneys. But four years on, she's remaining positive and enjoying every day. 'My scans worked, my treatment worked,' she said. 'But I've never heard the words 'you're cancer free'. 'I adopted the attitude that I'm going to live with lymphoma, but it's in a coma. 'And it can stay there as long as it likes, as long as it doesn't wake up.' The keen gardener says she is also very grateful to the Tillydrone community nurses because not only did they carry out her blood tests, but they attended to her pic line every week. While Evelyn has been preparing for her fashion show debut, this isn't the first time she's raised funds for Friends of Anchor. She doesn't charge a lot for the Highland dancing outfits, so she puts her tips into the charity piggy bank — and has raised £500 so far. Evelyn also had a Doric story published in an anthology, and the £50 prize was also put to the charity. Her husband helps the fundraising efforts, putting any money he earns from his talks to the cause too. 'So that's my story,' she said, clasping her hands together on her lap with a smile. 'I'm still not cured, but three years have turned into four — that's why I thought 'I have a bonus year, and it's time for pay back'. 'I knew Friends of Anchor were there for me, and I know they're still there. While I haven't felt the need for them yet, I know that day may come.' You can donate to Evelyn's JustGiving page here Portlethen mum Lisa Wilkie steps out of the shadow of cancer with Courage on the Catwalk Lumphanan farm worker Vicky Ferries: 'My cow got me through cancer' Moyra Clark: Former detective inspector from Udny walks tall after beating breast cancer twice
