Annual Fashion Show & Silent Auction to benefit My Breast Cancer Support a success

Portsmouth Herald
·3 min read
The audience applauds one last look as the models from All the Buzz hit the runway.
The audience applauds one last look as the models from All the Buzz hit the runway.

PORTSMOUTH — On a windswept and rainy April day over 175 guests enjoyed an afternoon admiring the spring fashions modeled by local women and breast cancer survivors from select area fashion boutiques. The Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel was a packed house on Sunday, April 23 for the Annual Fashion Show & Silent Auction to benefit My Breast Cancer Support.

The Fashion Show featured spring looks from All the Buzz, J. Hilburn Menswear, Daisy Janes, Club Boutique & City Shoes, Bella Intimates, Lazy Daisy, Puttin’ on the Glitz and Lizology. Over 35 models, many breast cancer survivors walked the spectacularly lighted runway as their bio and outfit description was announced by local DJ Lori. The already beautiful women and men had both hair and makeup done by Tresses Hair Salon and Spa of Rochester.

Wendy McCoole, breast cancer survivor and the founder of My Breast Cancer Support models a summer outfit from Daisy Janes at the start of the Fashion show.
Wendy McCoole, breast cancer survivor and the founder of My Breast Cancer Support models a summer outfit from Daisy Janes at the start of the Fashion show.

“We’re so happy to be able to give back to local breast cancer patients through My Breast Cancer Support,” said Jeanette Poulin, Founder of The Fashion Show. “We have had great feedback that this was the best show yet, and that means a great deal as this year’s show was our first since 2019. “

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States aside from skin cancers, and New Hampshire has one of the highest rates of new breast cancer cases in the country. In its 2020, 2021 and 2022 Cancer Facts & Figuresreport, the American Cancer Society indicated that New Hampshire had the # 1 highest incidence rate for breast cancer of any state in the country. According to the organization’ s 2023 report, N.H. now has the # 2 highest incidence rate. An estimated 1,390 N.H. residents will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

“Since My Breast Cancer Support was launched in 2011, we have helped over 5,800 local breast cancer patients with financial grants for basic needs and while research is critical to end this disease it does little to address the needs of someone going through breast cancer now and who can’t pay their bills”,” said Kathy Lijoi, Board Chair of My Breast Cancer Support. “We hope that someday our organization won’t have to exist at all, but, until that time, especially with the help and generosity of our community at events like The Fashion Show, we will continue to help as many local patients as we can.”

From left to right are Fashion Show Committee members Jeanette Poulin, Amy Howard, Jennie Halstead, Jody Woodward.
From left to right are Fashion Show Committee members Jeanette Poulin, Amy Howard, Jennie Halstead, Jody Woodward.

The Fashion Show was founded by a group of philanthropic minded women, led by local businesswoman Jeanette Poulin, to benefit non-profit organizations that advocate, support and provide care to those in need. Its goal is to build creative fashion projects to raise money for non-profit organizations that make a difference in the communities of the Greater Seacoast. The group strives for perfect harmony between fashion and philanthropy.

My Breast Cancer Support is an independent NH 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization providing financial and emotional support to local breast cancer patients and their families on the seacoast of New Hampshire and in southern Maine.

For more information on the organization, visit www.mybreastcancersupport.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Annual Fashion Show to benefit My Breast Cancer Support a success