A GLITTERING charity fashion show has been organised in memory of a ‘one-in-a-million’ woman who bravely battled cancer for 12 years.

Vivienne McFarlane lived life to the full and always put others before herself despite enduring a courageous fight against the disease.

Sadly Vivienne, who was originally from Greenock, passed away in April last year.

Her mum Jean Gourley has organised a fashion show next month as a tribute to her, with the event raising money for Ardgowan Hospice and Greenock Medical Aid Society.

Jean, who lives in Gourock, says Vivienne loved fashion and shopping so the show is the perfect way to remember her beautiful daughter.

She said: “Vivienne was the one who inspired me to do the fashion shows.

“She loved to watch the girls on the catwalk and check out all the fashions, as she loved to shop.

“I can see her yet in her wheelchair in the front row.

“She was my best friend —we were so close.

“She was the perfect daughter.”

Vivienne was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 years ago and it almost immediately spread to her lungs.

Doctors initially told her that she only had a year to live.

But Vivienne, who worked in IBM for most of her life before taking up a position with British Airports Authority in Glasgow, was determined to fight the illness and defied the odds to live a full life for 12 years.

Jean added: “Vivienne was amazing.

“She had chemotherapy without a break for a whole 12 years.

“She was always so full of fun and she always thought of people who were worse off than her.

“She would talk about going for her treatment and seeing people come and go.

“She felt she was the lucky one.”

In her last year, Vivienne, who was also close to her sister Arlene, was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

It meant she had to use a wheelchair to get around but this did not hold her back.

Jean said: “It did not deter her from enjoying herself.

“Just two months before she died she was at the Medical Aid Society’s ball in her wheelchair.

“She was also a great supporter of Ardgowan Hospice and was always at their ladies’ days.

“She gave generously to many charities.

“Vivienne was a fun person, always smiling and always thinking of other people.

“She was also a very private person but to all her friends she was one in a million.”

For many years, Vivienne also attended the annual breast cancer awareness day at the Radisson Hotel in Glasgow.

Jean said the last show she attended in October 2016 was a very moving occasion.

She said: “It was very emotional and some of the models would talk about their journey coping with their illness.

“But with sadness there was always humour with Vivienne. She said to me, ‘it’s just as well they don’t breathalyse people in charge of a wheelchair!’ as we were making our way back to the train station, after both of us and our friends had consumed a few cocktails.”

Jean says the fashion show in Greenock Town Hall on Wednesday March 21 will be a fitting way to remember Vivienne, especially as the theme is purple — which was her favourite colour.

The event is being hosted by Britain’s Got Talent star Edward Reid while there will be retail stands and entertainment.

Jean says she is very grateful to the models who are supporting the event, including Marie Stewart, Agnes Biondi, Rosie Slack, Val Duncan, Christine Service, Maureen Kinniburgh, Anne Knox, Janice McLaughlin, Pauline Gourdie, Lesley Anne Jess, Ainsley Williamson, Linda McDowall, June Forbes and Louise Carlin.

Tickets for the show, which starts at 7.30pm, are £10 and they can be purchased from any of the models or picked up from Greenock Medical Aid Society and the hospice.

Tickets are also available from Jean or at Straps of Gourock, Reds Footwear, Josephine Weir dentists and Bliss Beauty.