survivorship and patient services

Cancer survivors strut their stuff at Fashion A Cure, raising money for the ACS mission
On August 24, More than 450 people celebrated cancer survivorship during the 12th annual Fashion Show in Indianapolis. The Fashion Show began in 1996 as an occasion to increase breast cancer awareness, and has since grown into a premier event that celebrates survivors of all types of cancer.

This year, the show took on a retro theme. The event name, Fashion A Cure, was modeled after the familiar term from the sixties, Fashion A Go Go. Upon entering the venue, guests were taken back in time with retro décor and music. Fashion A Cure started off with an extensive silent auction selection. Several items in the auction were donated by the survivor models who also created handmade greeting cards to original artwork.

The stage program commenced with a mission delivery moment, showing guests how money raised from the event will benefit Central Indiana residents. Previous Fashion Show model and survivorship chair, Dr. Robert Goulet, demonstrated how the American Cancer Society is leading the way in cancer research and explained how everyone has a responsibility to fight cancer, whether they’re a survivor, caregiver, father, mother, child, or friend.

The stars of the show were 16 cancer survivors from Central Indiana who modeled the latest in fall fashions, courtesy of boutiques in the area. The evening was an opportunity to celebrate everyone on a cancer journey, no matter how long they’d been battling. Some of the models had been survivors for decades, while others were diagnosed just a few months prior to the show.

Among the new faces who made their modeling debuts was nine year old Leukemia survivor, Alyssa Lewandowski, who walked the runway as confident as could be. A few survivor models were Fashion Show veterans, having participated in the show several years in a row, including past event chair, Ann January.

Fashion A Cure was extra special for one Medullablastoma survivor, Christine Bogardus celebrated her 23rd birthday at the event. It was truly an opportunity to celebrate her life and her successful battle with cancer.

Two of the models, Bill and Kolleen Stacy, are husband and wife. Kolleen is currently battling her twelfth recurrence. They participated in Fashion A Cure because they wanted it to be a "toast to the courageous people who we have all lost to cancer."

The models boldly strutting down the catwalk weren’t the only ones well-dressed at the event. The amusing event emcees, co-hosts of a popular local radio show, really embraced the theme. One DJ wore a zoot suit, while the other donned a powder blue leisure suit.

The final portion of the evening introduced a brand new event coming to the Indianapolis area, Discovery Ball. This black-tie gala, set for Fall 2009, will feature the progress being made in cancer research and serve as a fundraiser for the mission.

In total, the event raised $47,000 to support the American Cancer Society’s mission to eliminate cancer and improve the quality of life for the models and all others battling this disease. For more information about cancer or the American Cancer Society, please call 1-800-227-2345.

Pictured: Survivor models walk the runway for the Fashion A Cure finale (top right)