Elisa Del Rosario speaks about her battle with cancer at the Northwest Hope and Healing Spring Fashion Show 2009, flanked by fellow survivors Daniella Spreacker and Margurite Lynch. The event was a fundraiser to help cancer patients meet some of their basic needs. Click the image to view a slideshow.
The seventh annual Spring Fashion Show presented by Northwest Hope and Healing was staged at Showbox SODO on Thursday, April 30 and saw more than 500 people in attendance. "The event raised between $65,000 and $70,000, we're so happy," Sherri Sewell, Executive Director said.
The fundraiser generated thousands of dollars that will go to help cancer patients with child care, counseling, transportation, meals, and emergency rent. Since 2000, the organization has allocated more than $600,000.
Sherri Sewell said, "Every month we help 12 to 15 new patients,"
During the event, cancer survivor Elisa Del Rosario spoke of her own experience with cancer, breaking into tears during her speech.
The organization also presented a video for the event that featured comments from survivors and provided a brief history of how Christine Smith, a survivor herself, founded the organization after getting a gift basket following her initial diagnosis. That event led her to begin to create "Healing Baskets" for cancer patients and eventually to form Northwest Hope and Healing.
Fashion boutiques from various Seattle neighborhoods all took part in the event. including Canopy Blue, Oslo's, Kick it Boots and Stompwear, Clutch, Coastal Surf Boutique (on Alki), Asher Anson, The Finerie, Lululemon Athletica, Nuvo Moor, Carmilia's (in the Junction), Ola Salon (on Delridge), BraBarette, ModBeautySquad and Caroline Van Staden Jeweler.
The event was sponsored by Athena Partners, Boost, Spring Hill Restaurant, Visual Media Group, 103.7 the Mountain, Kiwanis of West Seattle, Gourmondo Catering, Robinson Newspapers/West Seattle Herald, Suzuki + Chou Communimedia.
