September 5th, 2011 
Photo Credit: styleontherunway.com
On Sunday, October 2, 2011, David Alexander Salon and Spa and Stepping Out for Breast Cancer will be hosting the first annual Style on the Runway, benefitting the Anne Arundel Medical Breast Center and the METAvivor Research and Support, Inc. This fabulous event will be held at the Loews Hotel in Annapolis from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Style on the Runway’s mission is to harness the compassion of the community by organizing fundraising events to benefit women and men in Annapolis and the surrounding areas who are battling breast cancer. This event will honor and support breast cancer fighters and survivors by presenting a stunning hair and fashion show, which will include models who have survived or who are currently battling breast cancer.
Boutiques and designers who have donated pieces to the show include: Madison, Carlisle Collection, Lee Anderson, White House Black Market, Enchanted Shoe Box, and many more.
Attendees will be able to devour hors d’oeuvres and from gourmet food stations from local area restaurants including the Chart House, LeveL, Carpaccio, Ruth’s Chris, Vin 909 and McGarvey’s. Delectable desserts will be provided by Select Confections, Dolce Mia and Menchie’s.
Along with the fashion show and delicious food, guests will be able to shop a variety of local vendors, enjoy live music and participate in a live auction, raffle and games.
Some of the items that will be auctioned include:
• An afternoon with X Games multi-medalist, Travis Pastrana, at his home to learn how he trains for competition.
• A Christian Siriano cocktail dress hand selected by Christian himself for the auction.
• One week at Boulder Oaks Mountain Retreat at Wisp Resort, Deep Creek
• Gift certificate donations for a private winery tour, private vineyard tour and a wine tasting with a souvenir glass from Vault Field Vineyards, Virginia
David Alexander Salon and Spa
The David Alexander Salon and Spa, co-owned by Scott Brainard, has served the Annapolis area for over 15 years, with 20 stylists and a 3,000 square foot day spa. In the past five years, the spa has hosted a Day of Beauty with the Bay Area Community Church for battered women as well as donating services for hundreds of local charitable fundraising events.
METAvivor
METAvivor (METAvivor – METAstatic and surVIVOR), a non-profit based in Annapolis, run entirely by volunteers, focuses on Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC), which is the spread of breast cancer to non-adjacent parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs and brain. There are not many organizations in the United States that are specifically dedicated to helping women and men who have been diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Of all the money spent on research and treatment, less than two percent goes towards stage IV cancer patients, even though these patients are the most likely to require the most expensive treatments. The disease is not currently survivable.
METAvivor provides and establishes local support, seeks out speaking engagements and other opportunities to make their voices heard and awards a research grant every year. Many of the members of METAvivor will be walking down the runway at the fashion show. Stories of three of the inspiring METAvivor runway models are featured below.
Featured METAvivor Models
CJ (Dian) Corneliussen-James, president of METAvivor joined the Air Force as a young California girl in the mid 1970’s and stayed in the service for 24 years. She worked in Hawaii, Laos and even worked with German intelligence officials in Munich. After retiring, she was hired as a GS-15 civilian into the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office. In 2004, CJ was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. For eight months, she tele-worked while undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. After returning to the office, she later learned at the age of 55 that she had stage IV breast cancer that had metastasized to her lung. Being a stubborn fighter, she had a portion of her lung removed but soon realized almost no support was available for those fighting this only form of fatal breast cancer. In late 2007, she met six vibrant women at Anne Arundel Medical Center, all who had the same cancer she did. Together, the women formed a support group and incorporated it in 2009, creating METAvivor.
Avis Halberstadt, co-founder of METAvivor, was diagnosed in 2006 with primary stomach cancer, and after a partial gastrectomy, a PET scan later diagnosed breast cancer metastasis to the bone. Avis was part of the group of vibrant women who met at Anne Arundel Medical Center and later formed METAvivor. Avis is now the owner of an SAT and math tutoring business, which she has run for over 20 years. She continues to live the good life, even with her cancer.
Dr. Arti Santhanam, Director of Research for METAvivor, experienced the devastation of breast cancer metastasis when her maternal aunt was diagnosed. Dr. Santhanam will be walking in the fashion show in memory of Lainie Fagan, a METAvivor who lost her battle to stage 4 breast cancer on July 3, 2011.
Anne Arundel Medical Breast Center
The Anne Arundel Medical Breast Center supports 30,000 women and men who are battling breast cancer. For the 70% of breast cancer patients who do not metastasize but remain in remission after treatment has ended, the fear of metastasis makes it very difficult for some to return to a normal life. For patients needing some additional assistance, there are few local resources that they can turn to for emotional support, counseling or education on maintaining health and wellness.
Tickets to the event cost $100 for general admission or $150 for VIP tickets which includes food, preferred seating for the runway show, vendors and open bar. Go to http://styleontherunway.com/ to register for this inspiring event!
WHEN: Sunday, October 2, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Loews Annapolis Hotel
126 West Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
Ph. 410-263-7777
TICKETS: Admission $100, VIP $150. Tickets can be purchased here.
