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THIS time last year Julett Culloty had taken centre stage to represent her county in the Rose of Tralee and the bubbly young Kilcummin lady was delighted to return to the county town to renew friendships and support her successor in this year’s festival.

And the social whirl doesn’t stop there for Julett, who this evening will be joining Majella O’Donnell a host of others who have recovered from cancer as they take to the catwalk in the INEC for the Models in Recovery fashion show in aid of the Killarney branch of the Kerry Hospice Foundation. “It is such a positive event, we’re all in recovery and we all have different stories,” Julett told the Killarney Advertiser.

“We often only hear the negative stories when we think of cancer. It can be so frightening; people think of the worst-case scenario but this fashion show celebrates people getting through the experience so it really is a fantastic cause to be supporting.”

Julett was diagnosed with cervical cancer in April 2014. “I began my treatment in June of that year. I had intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy,” she said. Fortunately Julette got the all-clear in October 2014.

She is keen to spread the message of positivity and hope to others. “News of diagnosis is obviously a blow. I remember when I was dealing with it, the best advice I got was from my uncle, Dan Reidy, who said: ‘Look, we’ll get through today, and as for what’s coming tomorrow, we’ll deal with that then.’ That concept of taking things day by day was so helpful, particularly when there was so much racing through my head.”

Co-ordinated by Margaret Walsh O’Donoghue, the fashion show will be preceded by a wine reception at 7pm sharp. Tickets, €15, are available from Pat Doolan, chairman, Killarney branch of Kerry Hospice Foundation, 085-1543514, or participating shops.
 

 
Julett Culloty who is one of the team behind the third annual Models in Recovery fashion show which takes place at the INEC, Killarney, this evening, Thursday, September 1.