8th Annual Fashion for Life to Support Breast Reconstruction at Cambridge Memorial Hospital

Cambridge, Ontario – The Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation is very pleased to announce that Fashion for Life has chosen the hospital’s Breast Reconstruction Program as its beneficiary for their upcoming 2017 ‘White Party’ fashion event.

Fashion for Life Chair, Audrey Wilson, commented “We are very proud and grateful of our success having raised over $300,000 for The Canadian Cancer Society since 2010. As a committee, we review annually where our time and fundraising efforts are best spent and this year we’ve chosen the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Breast Reconstruction Campaign.”

“We had no idea this service even existed until hearing three very personal and passionate stories from breast reconstruction patients,” says Wilson. “The committee voted unanimously to support this program for 2017 and we’re confident that our change in direction will bring a renewed sense of energy and life to our show.“

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy or lumpectomy is a relatively new option for women in the Waterloo region.

A team of surgeons, including Drs. Shenker, Chesney and Ma, do all forms of reconstructive breast surgery, and began performing microsurgical free-flap, reconstructive surgeries at Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) in 2014. Often the reconstructive surgery may be combined with the cancer surgery on the same day. Reconstructive surgery is offered to women who have had, or are scheduled to have, a breast removed due to cancer, or a lumpectomy. Specialized operating room equipment, such as a microscope, tissue blood supply analyzer and instruments are required, along with a great deal of training for support staff.

Since 2014, over 150 of breast reconstructions have been performed at CMH. The CMH Foundation has raised over $160,000 towards their $1M goal for Breast Reconstruction. The program will be offered within the larger, more modern surgical suites of the new patient care wing when it opens in 2017.

Fashion for Life will hold their 8th Annual White Party Fashion Show and Shopping night on April 27, 2017 at Hacienda Sarria.

The Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation is a registered public charitable foundation that raises funds for medical equipment, infrastructure and continuing education at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. Breast Reconstruction is part of our larger TransformationCMH Campaign to expand CMH to better serve the growing needs of our community. www.cmhfoundation.ca

Fashion for Life is a charitable project of Gemini Modelling Agency with a mission to raise money and provide hope to those who are dealing with the difficulties surrounding cancer. Since 2010 over $300,000 has been raised for causes such as Wheels of Hope coordinated by the Canadian Cancer Society. www.fashionforlife.ca

For media inquiries contact:

Jennifer White
Campaign for Breast Reconstruction Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation 519-740-4966 [email protected]

Audrey Wilson
Fashion for Life
Gemini Modelling Agency
(519) 578-2111 [email protected]