By Amanda Galloway
special correspondent

Cure By Design will be holding its 4th annual fashion show benefiting the American Cancer Society on Friday, Aug. 14.

The show, held at the Westin Richmond on Broad Street, will feature both local designers and those from New York, highlighting their newest fashions.  However, the most exciting part of the event is that all 46 participating models are cancer survivors from the Greater Richmond area. 

“I always say that Cure By Design is a celebration of life.  It is more about the models than the fashion,” Katie Bell, coordinator for the event said.

Cure By Design began in the mid 1990’s in Florida, Bell explained.  It expanded to Richmond in 2006, and has been an annual event since. 

“Cure By Design is unique to Richmond and a handful of other cities across the nation.  We’re lucky to offer such a unique and exciting event that benefits a good cause,” Bell said.

The 46 models, ranging in age from four to their late seventies, have survived a variety of cancers.  The models are selected through an application process that has become increasingly competitive as Cure By Design grows in popularity. 

In addition to featuring cancer survivors, the show will highlight the works of eight different retailers and designers. 

Included in those is Alex Garfield, a designer from New York who founded GarfieldMarks Design Group, Ltd., and is currently working on a new company, Peace of Cloth.

“Alex was integral in starting [Cure By Design],” Bell said.  “He is very supportive of the program and of the Richmond event in particular.”

Sponsored by Bon Secours and Owens and Minor, Cure By Design will offer a cocktail style reception and a silent auction, also benefiting the American Cancer Society.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the event, visit http://www.curebydesign.org

Meet eight of the Midlothian area models below:

Nancy Faux
Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago.  After having treatment as recently as last May, she is glad to be through the worst of it.  “At the beginning, the diagnosis is always the worst part because you never know how much is involved,” she said.  “Once you recover, you are always waiting for the other shoe to drop, but at least you know what to expect.”  Nancy will be participating in Cure By Design for the first time this year, after seeing advertisements on television last year.  “It was too late to participate [last year].  So I’m doing it this year.  I originally saw an ad on TV, and was really struck by the name.”

Sonya Forrest
Sonya is an eight year survivor who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 30.  She now works at the Virginia Breast Center, with fellow model Kathy Childers, where she uses her personal experience to help her patients.  “I really feel like I can make a difference.  I think it helps the patients to know the person on the other side of the counter went through the same thing.”  In the past, with the help of her patients, Sonya raised $5,000 to support Strides for Life, an organization raising money for colon cancer.  This will be her first year as a model for Cure By Design.

Kathy Childers
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, Kathy was fortunate to make a speedy recovery. Her whole life she said that she would return to school once her son went to college; and in 2002, she decided to go to nursing school. She now works with Sonya at the Virginia Breast Center.  She discovered Cure By Design after a patient of hers was involved in the program.  Like Sonya, this will be her first time modeling with the program.

Nancy Uzel
Nancy found out about the program from a nurse at Bon Secours, and then filled out an application.  Nancy was first diagnosed 11 years ago, and since then has had cancer cells or pre cancer cells on her breast, cervix, and lung.  Fortunately the cells were slow growing, and with the last of them removed in April, she is making a speedy recovery.  “I’ve been fortunate to have really good doctors.  I always tell people to listen to them and to no one else.  Do what they say to do and do your follow up.  Then you have to have a lot of faith that it will work out, and most times, it will,” she said.  Nancy is thankful to be healthy again, and it is looking forward to getting back in shape at her local fitness center.

Nancy Wheeler
Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine annual mammogram in November of 2007.  After several invasive surgeries, Nancy is cancer-free and will be going back to work this year.  “I had retired from Midlo Middle in 2005 and will un-retire this school year to teach 8th grade social studies in the same classroom that I occupied when we opened in 1984,” she said.  Nancy thanks her doctors, friends, and family for getting her through this tough time.  “My family and friends…spent every night with me in the hospital as my advocates, which I highly recommend to everyone.”  Nancy got involved with Cure By Design after seeing a flyer in her doctor’s office in June. 

Donna Beames
Donna was diagnosed at the age of 44 after having routine mammograms and no family history.  “Initially I felt guilty for what [my daughters] were about to go through – at best seeing me sick and bald from chemo, at worst attending my funeral and growing up without their mom to kiss their boo-boos, heal hurt feelings, and be their number one cheerleader.  My husband was my backbone and encouraged me early on not to let cancer identify who I am…This was the best advice anyone ever gave me,” she said. After eight rounds of chemo and extensive and frequent surgeries, Donna is counting her blessings.  She became involved in the American Cancer Society years before her diagnosis while living in Florida, and was invited to sit in on the planning committee for Cure By Design and will be outfitting models as part of her job as Etcetera Sales Consultant.

Bonnie Hall
In 1990 at the age of 35, Bonnie was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She was cancer free for seven years until she had a recurrence in 1997.  Since then, she has been healthy, and in her free time is involved in a survivor group known at the Circle of Hope.  Three and a half years old, the group formed from a Sunday School class at Salisbury Presbyterian.  “We now have 35 members from the community, the majority of them being breast cancer survivors.  We take a very spiritual approach to dealing with cancer,” she explained.  Although founded in Midlothian, the Circle of Hope includes people from throughout the Richmond area.  Bonnie asks anyone who wants to be involved to call her at 379-4374.  She, along with five other Circle of Hope members, will be participating in Cure By Design for the first time.

Carol DeSoi
Carol is a 46 year old, two year breast cancer survivor.  She was diagnosed in 2007, only a year after her sister had died of breast cancer after a nine year battle.  After working with a geneticist at MCV, Carol realized her cancer was genetic.  After some research, she learned her paternal grandmother was one of ten children, seven of whom died from cancer.  “Although I could approach my situation as being genetically doomed, I want you to know how incredibly blessed I feel on so many levels,” she said.  She is currently cancer free, and thanks her religion, friends, and family for making her feel stronger than she did before she was diagnosed.  She discovered Cure By Design through her involvement with the Circle of Hope with Bonnie.