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The evening will showcase new fall fashion styles from local merchants and feature informational booths as well as music, dessert, and coffee. Come early for the silent auction and bid on dozens of distinctive items starting at 5:30pm with the style show beginning at 7pm and social hour to follow. Tickets are just $12 dollars in advance or $15 at the door and are available at Amirage Salon or The Discovery Shop. Seating is limited so advance tickets are recommended with the proceeds benefiting the Tri-State Survivor's Fund. History of Images & Information In the fall of 1992, I was doing Suzanne Jacque's hair in the salon and we were discussing Linda Ellerbee's TV show that had been on the previous week. Linda had a fashion show about breast cancer. She had used breast cancer survivors for models. I told Suzanne I had always wanted the salon to do a fashion show that had a meaning and purpose like that show. At that time I had a niece that had been going through cancer and also a client that was a 61 year survivor when she died at the age of 81. She was one of the most amazing women living with breast cancer all those years! She was one of the most inspirational women I had ever met. Suzanne said she would love to do something like that fashion. Since she was searching for a way to promote awareness of breast cancer since she was a breast cancer survivor herself. By early spring, Suzanne had organized a committee and we had our first meeting. We found a place to hold it, found sources to help with food, and got stores involved. Then we wondered, would we find enough breast cancer survivors that would want to be involved with the show. We found many willing survivors eager to share their story. The only thing left was, would anyone come to the show. And they did! From the beginning the show's goals were: Over the years we have had many wonderful speakers - Doctors, Survivors, Family and Friends. All of them gave the audience a perspective of breast cancer. We had 2 plays that depicted breast cancer patients and their feelings after diagnosis and confronted their fears of doing the necessary monthly exams and mammogram. Everyone involved with the show has always remarked on how wonderful it is to be involved with such a positive, inspirational and motivating group. We learn so much from them! How to appreciate life and the people in our life. The show has always had a life of its own. It has always been easy to get people to help with the show from the businesses and organizations that have helped or donated their time or resources to it. Over the years I have had too many close friends and relatives diagnosed with breast cancer and this is the same story I hear from all of the people involved in the show - either they or someone they know has been diagnosed and they want to help with the show. The survivors themselves view the show as a support group. They may only see each other once a year at the show, but they connect in a way that is so special. We have had one man that is a survivor of breast cancer and many, many women over the years involved in the show. Many return year after year! Suzanne was and is still our inspiration even though she has moved to Texas. We still feel her presence at this show and her inspiration in organizing each show. I have always been blessed with a great group of people on the committee over the years as well as survivors and all the people and businesses that have contributed in some way tot the success of the shows. And most important the audience that has supported these survivors and helped them to celebrate survivorship. We had no idea when we started this, that it would keep going for this long. We always hoped that there would be a cure and therefore no need for the show. Someday! In 2002, we decided to add a third goal - to help financially a breast cancer survivor. There are so many struggling with issues relating to breast cancer - physical, emotional and financial. We felt that we could help one person to ease some of the financial strain. This was the birth of The Tri-State Survivors Fund. To date The Tri-State Survivors Fund has given away $21,000. And so, as we wrap up one show, we start planning the next one. Stay tuned!
Committee Members:
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