On Saturday, October 8, dozens of models will be sashaying across the runway at the Schofield Hall in TMR
Egbert Gaye
Every year, when the Rip The Runway Montreal crew gets together to plan their annual Fashion For A Cause show, one of their biggest concerns is which charity should benefit from their efforts.
“Raising awareness to causes that we feel aren’t getting enough recognition has been our mission from our very first year in 2012,” states Janice Small-Wright, one of the founders of the highly popular annual Thanksgiving weekend fashion show.
Since then they have donated well over $18,500 in total to various national charities, raising awareness to causes such as Leukemia & Lymphoma, Prostate Cancer, Sickle Cell Anemia and Multiple Sclerosis.
This year, they plan to take it to another level by funding a new community-based organization that’s being put in place to address an increasingly troubling issue among Black and Caribbean people, mental health.
Small-Wright states that one in five Canadians experiences mental illness in their lifetime and are crippled by the stigma associated with it, so their goal is “to help put an end the stigma and to promote mental health literacy in our community.”
They are hoping to do so by helping to launch the Black Mental Health Connections (BMHC), which will serve as a staging point against the disease.
Small Wright says this year’s theme: Free Your Mind,” is a direct call to the community and beyond to increase mental health awareness.
Also, proceeds from this year’s event will be channeled into the coffers of DESTA Black Youth Network, a cash-strapped Little Burgundy-based organization that provides frontline services in education and employability training to young Montrealers.
Over the past 18 months, the organization has been on the brink of shutting its doors due to the lack of funds.
Now that all the formalities are in place, on Saturday, October 8, dozens of models will be sashaying across the runway at the Schofield Hall in Town of Mont Royal in a showcase of fashion and style that has taken its place as one of Montreal’s signature events.
According to organizers, it’s the diversity of the models, designers, fashion houses and entertainers that make Fashion For A Cause stand out. It’s a unique representation of our community and Montreal.
Small-Wright says they come from all races, different age groups and body types and each of them brings something special.
And she invites all Montrealers to be part of what has been a sold-out event for the past four years.
This year’s hosts are Catherine Verdon-Diamond of City TV’s Breakfast TV and Malik Shaheed of Youth Stars Foundation ”
RIP THE RUNWAY MONTREAL’s: Fashion For A Cause 2016; Schofield Hall in Town of Mont Royal on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016.
Ticket Outlets: Princessa’s Beauty Products; Marche Colonnade; Espace Urbain MTL and Online @eventbrite.ca “riptherunwaymontreal2016” and by any RTR Model.
Info. or a minimum of (3) tickets delivery contact: (514)690-0836; (514)951-3194; (514)232-1947. Facebook: Rip the Runway: Fashion For A Cause MTL Instagram: RTR_Fashion_For_A_Cause_MTL
