Abbey catwalk show raises money for charities

Kirianna (left) and Dana got involved to show their support for Children's Hospice South West

A 12-year-old girl was among the models at an event which gave people with serious illnesses and their families a chance to appear on the catwalk.

Bath Abbey hosted Strength in Style, which was aimed at promoting pre-loved clothes, and demonstrating what it means to "live joyfully" with a serious illness.

Patients, doctors and nurses were among those who took part to raise money for Dorothy House Hospice Care, Children's Hospice South West and cancer charity We Get It.

Kirianna, whose younger sister Zeniah has a rare genetic condition that causes mobility issues, seizures and holes in her heart, took to the catwalk to show her support for charities helping her family.

She told the BBC: "It is going to be really cool because I can tell everyone I've done a catwalk show when I go back to school tomorrow."

Describing living with her sister's condition, she said: "Sometimes it can be difficult if [Zeniah] is in hospital, but sometimes it can be good because you get to do things you wouldn't normally get to do if you didn't have a sister like mine."

Kirianna modelled a flowery top and jeans for the show

Her mother Dana said the family often rely on Charlton Farm Hospice in Wraxall, which is run by Children's Hospice South West.

"Charlton Farm is just always there," Dana said.

"They're just there to scoop you all up and keep things going for a little bit longer."

Lucy said charity We Get It helped her "take control" after her cancer diagnosis

Dana added: "For the hospice to invite Kirianna to come and model tonight, it's just a lovely way for her to be involved as part of the bigger picture and she really does get a lot from feeling like she's helping."

One of the event's organisers Lizzie Heffer, of the charity We Get It, said: "The models are all people who want to showcase how wonderful it is to live joyfully, and you can do that with cancer and other life-limiting diseases."

It was model Lucy's second year striding down the runway - last year she took part just weeks after undergoing a mastectomy.

"When you are living with cancer quite often it comes with shame or I felt shame, like I should be hiding away," she said.

"It's been important for me to take control of certain things that have been happening in my life, and prove to people and prove to myself it's not going to beat me."