On Saturday the 1st of March, over 250 Edinburgh students will dance and strip in the Usher Hall, raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust.
“It’s insane. But a good kind of insane,” said one student, signing up to dance in the eleventh Edinburgh Medics’ Reveal. A giant variety dance and strip show, produced, choreographed, and performed by Edinburgh medical and nursing students – Reveal has eighteen dances of varied strip levels, two surprise hosts, and an afterparty. It’s as mad as it sounds.
Why do it? Because it’s an incredible way of raising money for an invaluable charity: Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT). It’s a bit unexpected from future doctors and nurses but – considering it’s all about helping young people with cancer – maybe it’s exactly what you’d expect. Altogether, Reveal has raised nearly £200,000.
In 2014, Edinburgh medical student Catherine Fox founded Reveal to honour her sister. She was diagnosed with leukaemia as a teenager and would have turned 30 the year Reveal began. Initially a fundraiser in the now-closed Jam House, Reveal has grown every year, selling out Edinburgh’s Potterrow, the George Street Assembly Rooms, and most recently the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Those tickets sold in six minutes, so this year they’ve upsized to one of Edinburgh’s grandest venues – the Usher Hall.
For the cast, Reveal is about having fun – there are no auditions. The audience’s energy carries the room and they’re hyped before they’ve even reached their seats. Being involved is a commitment, with weekly rehearsals and regular fundraisers. Final-year student Izzy will be dancing for the fourth time in March. She emphasised Reveal’s year-round community: “it’s much more than just the show – it’s such a unique experience in the lead-up, too. Reveal encourages connection across all years.”
Reveal is proudly full of life and fun. It’s just as well because it joins the battle against a disease that is anything but. TCT representative Michael Kirk, explained: “Cancer hits young people hard. More teenagers and young adults in the UK die from cancer than any other disease. For those who survive, going through it without the right support can cause lifelong damage.”
TCT is close to our hearts in Edinburgh, where two units have dedicated clinical nurse specialists and youth support coordinators. Many of their patients include Edinburgh students.
Dana is one such student. She’s currently in her third year studying Psychology, but in February 2022, she was diagnosed with lymphoma. The news of this rare blood cancer – just before her high school exams – was devastating. “It was just life-changing, that’s the best way to describe it.
“Suddenly you don’t have the ability to dream and hope because you’re scared that you don’t have a future. When anyone is having a hard time, what pulls them through is the hope that it will get better. But when you’re diagnosed with cancer, you don’t have that. You’re like, can I hope? I didn’t even know if there was something to look forward to.”
Having just turned eighteen, Dana received four months of chemotherapy in an adult ward. She found this particularly isolating, but she was visited by a TCT coordinator who gave support, advice, and financial help. “Not only did they offer me practical things like a high-quality wig, but TCT also allowed me to be seen. I felt valued, like I wasn’t just a patient but a person who they were taking care of.” They encouraged Dana to join events with other teenage patients, giving her a community while in hospital.
Dana finished treatment and “rang the bell” in May 2022, but TCT is still in contact with her, offering events and sending emails to check-in. “Even as I move on from that part of my life, they’ll still be there.”
TCT made Dana feel confident and beautiful, despite struggling to recognise herself in the mirror. She thinks that fundraising by taking your clothes off is an opportunity to feel confident in your own skin. Reveal’s dances vary from completely non-strip, all the way to the grand finale, so there’s an option for everyone. Alex, who danced in Reveal for the first time last year, said it let her step out of her comfort zone: “The whole experience did wonders for my body confidence, so I’m ready to do it all over again.”
Reveal has recently become an incorporated charity. Looking forward, its goals are to champion the opportunity to feel confident in a safe and welcoming environment, while supporting an invaluable cause. From TCT Scotland’s perspective, Reveal is one of its top five annual donors and Michael says the funds are vital. “If you’ve been involved or donated in the last decade, thank you.”
You too can help change lives; find us on Instagram @edimedicsreveal, donate, and join the ticket rush on the Usher Hall’s website at 1pm, on the 23rd of January.
Set your clocks, you won’t be disappointed.
Image provided by Reveal, taken by Berenika Murray.