Women strutted their stuff in Ghostrider Trading Co. and Odyssey apparel at the Fernie Seniors Drop in Centre on Thursday evening.
From left: Val Grandoni, Geraldine Rocca, Margaret Cooper, Cheryl Anderson, Adriana Pumphrey, Alisha Temple and Odyssey owner Yvonne Molle modeled Odyssey clothing during the Canadian Cancer Society’s fashion show.
The annual Canadian Cancer Society fashion show and coffee party was scheduled to kick off the Elk Valley’s door-to-door campaigning, which is set to begin this April.
“This is all to reinforce our message about prevention, research and support,” Canadian Cancer Society volunteer Bev Delyea said about the event. “We are the face of the [organization], fundraising in the community to support those things.”
Bev Delyea spoke on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Delyea noted that the event goes back at least 30 years, when the Canadian Cancer Society would host an annual coffee party to thank the volunteers coming to pick up their door-to-door fundraising kits.
“[Then] someone thought it would be a great idea to have a fashion show,” said Delyea. “The community all kicks in and helps [with the event].”
Drawing a large cloud of local women, including Mayor Mary Giuliano, volunteers and employees from Odyssey and Ghostrider Trading Co. modeled spring outfits.
During the evening’s festivities, Canadian Cancer Society drawing contest winners were also picked, with three children from Isabella Dicken Elementary School claiming first, second and third prize.
Emily Stratton’s drawing earned her a first place prize, while Lyric Dominique claimed second and Laura Dykhuizen claimed third place.
Delyea noted that this drawing contest is an awareness campaign that has been going on for years.
“It’s going through its second generation of Fernie people,” she said.
The Canadian Cancer Society volunteer added that along with the drawing contest and the door-to-door campaigning, the society is active in many Elk Valley community events; including the cancer connect telephone service, Daffodil month hosted every April and the Relay for Life campaign.
“We have a lot of specialized volunteers in the community that do things that are required,” Delyea said.
The evening’s events were concluded with a prize draw, where several women received small Canadian Cancer society gifts.