Nothing is more devastating than a diagnosis of pediatric cancer. Conversely, nothing is as uplifting and empowering as watching young models, all of whom are cancer survivors or junior ambassadors who have raised money for a cure, on the runway for a special fashion show at Bloomingdale’s.
The runway show takes place this Saturday, September 21 at Bloomingdale’s flagship Manhattan location at 59th St., in their BKids department on the fifth floor. The show features the award-winning designs of Sally Miller, whose clothes can be found at Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Lord and Taylor and hundreds of high-end boutiques. Miller is one of the sponsors and is also donating her clothing and her time—you can “shop with Sally” from
2-4 p.m. after the runway show, to support Solving Kids’ Cancer.
The girls who will be gracing “Sally Miller’s Catwalk of Courage” are between 8 and 14 years old.
“We are dressing both girls in treatment and girls who have raised money for SKC together and unified on the runway. We believe that girls supporting girls is an important message of empowerment as well as bringing much-needed awareness during pediatric cancer month. I have met with them all and had a great fitting last week. They are so excited to model! It is going to be an awesome time for all,” Miller says.
Solving Kids’ Cancer, or SKC, was founded a dozen years ago by two New York City fathers, John London and Scott Kennedy, who each lost a child to pediatric cancer. The organization focuses on the three deadliest childhood cancers—neuroblastoma, brain tumors, and sarcomas.
SKC is not connected to any specific institution or group of researchers. Instead, the organization supports the most promising research internationally, helping researchers across borders find treatments and cures.
“43 children are diagnosed with cancer every day. This is the leading cause of death for children under 15 years old in the United States. There needs to be more funding and Solving Kids Cancer is doing a phenomenal job. We are grateful to be able to help and we thank Bloomingdale’s for hosting,” says Sally Miller.
Clinical trial work supported by SKC can be founded in over 117 institutions in 15 countries across the planet. Meanwhile, back at Bloomingdale’s, the fashion show is only the beginning. There are mocktails for the kids, cocktails for the grown-ups, a photo booth, live DJ and delicious Melissa’s Cupcakes.
The event is open to the general public, as is the “shopping with Sally” opportunity which follows. It’s not every day that you get to meet a fashion icon like Sally Miller while at the same time supporting an extraordinarily important cause.
So, if you’re anywhere in the New York area this weekend, make it your business to scoot over to Bloomingdale’s and support the kids as they hit the runway in Sally Miller’s latest creations.
They’ll feel empowered, and so will you, because empowerment, unlike Lexington and Third Avenues, which bracket Bloomingdale’s, empowerment is a two-way street.