Sign up for the paNOW newsletter

Canadian Cancer Society Fashion show biggest yet

Apr 28, 2011 | 6:32 AM

For the past 16 years, Prince Albert Women have been coming to the Canadian Cancer Society’s Fashion Show to support cancer research, and to honour those lost to the disease by keeping up the fight.

Wednesday night’s dinner and fashion show was the biggest night yet with more than 650 guests.

For co-ordinator Marjorie Somers, the event allows women make the fight against cancer into a positive community effort.

“Everybody here tonight has either had cancer or has been touched with somebody in their family, or a friend, that has had cancer,” she said.

“So tonight, we can come out and have some fun and we can do that in honour of the people that we know who have battled cancer.”

The evening began with a fashion show of women who have survived cancer. The four women, Margaret Lyons, Marlene Coates, Elaine Bartel and Valerie Harper all shared their stories and marched down the catwalk to the jubilant applause of the audience.

The support the audience showed for the woman showed how great much the battle against cancer has moved from a private affair to a community endeavor, Somers said.

She said she was thrilled that people come out and support the cause because while advances are being made, there’s still much work to be done.

“It’s important because the research needs to happen, we need to have the right information about cancer and it’s so, so, so important to have the help plans and the support lines for the cancer survivor and the money has to come from somewhere,” she said.

Not only did money come from the sales of the more than 650 tickets, but there were also games and several hundred items up for silent auction.

As well, there was a second fashion show with local models wearing clothes provided by Sears.

The money raised by the society goes not only towards cancer research, but also to education and support for cancer patients.

Approximately 96 cents of every dollar raised by the organization goes directly to programs and all the money stays in the province, except when a research project is conducted outside of Saskatchewan.

adesouza@panow.com