It was a lively evening in which the fashion elite joined families affected by cancer and supporters to raise money in support of ending children’s cancer at the Roxx night club in Barrie, about an hour’s drive north of Toronto.
The evening featured a fashion show with 20 Elite Model Management models from New York as well as Coco Rocha, who strutted the runway wearing Nygard, Liz Claiborne and Natural Apparel.
Drew Parker, a singer/songwriter from Barrie opened up the show with old time favourites as well as two popular songs off his new album On My Way Home (www.drewparker.com).
It was 11-year-old Erica Campbell who instigated the event. Her life has been touched by her friend Adam who has been battling Leukemia for two years. Her supportive parents Linda and David Campbell, the Coast to Coast foundation, as well as sponsors and supporters, helped her put together this event in which 100 percent of the profits will go towards fighting children’s cancer.
Erica wanted people to stop and think about the children who aren’t riding their bikes, or playing hockey, but who are fighting for their lives.
Supermodel Coco Rocha, who has traveled the world and modeled for some of the biggest names in fashion such as Marc Jacobs, Versace, and Prada, was very excited to be involved in the event. She praised her little cousin Erica for her involvement and commitment to the cause.
“It’s been interesting to see how a little community in Barrie and Toronto and New York get together and try to raise awareness for kids with cancer,” said Rocha, who appeared on the cover of Elle Canada in March.
“This is the first of many; we hope to make this a yearly event!”
The 2009 Sears National Cancer Ride is one of the largest charity cycling events for childhood cancer in the world. The ride will start in Vancouver on June 13 and end on June 24th. Thirty-six national riders will take part in the 7000 mile journey across the country ending in Halifax and stopping in many towns and cities along the way. Over 10000 families will have a chance to participate in the event in hopes of inspiring children battling cancer.
Louisa Cantlon who is part of the Coast to Coast foundation, a Canadian organization whose mission statement is to improve the survival rate and the quality of life of children with cancer, said that one of the best features of the event is that it breaks the isolation associated with childhood cancer.
“You’re fighting for your life, and all you really want is to be normal and I know from experience that when families hear what we’re doing, they’re overwhelmed that a foundation, a group of riders, a group of volunteers, and a group of models would want to come together to come support them.”
Cantlon said that Canadians should know that childhood cancer is the leading cause of death of children in Canada and that more children will die of cancer than all other paediatric illnesses combined.
“Childhood cancer is very different than adult cancer. Kids under the age of 19 are in an incredible growth period, their bodies are growing, they’re going into puberty, so when you treat these bodies with chemotherapy and radiation, there become long term serious effects,” she said.
Despite the hardships, Cantlon made sure to highlight the positive side of the disease. She said that children who survive the disease go on to do amazing things with their lives.
“They learn how precious life is and when you learn those lessons young, you just go through life thinking, why can’t I do this? Why wouldn’t I succeed in doing that? They become supersized in what they can do,” she said.
“They’re just mature beyond their years because when you’re eight years old and you’ve already faced your own mortality, what the heck is left to scare you.”
For more information about how to get involved, or donate, visit www.nationalkidscancerride.comandwww.coasttocoastagainstcancer.org