How many fashion shows have we been to where the models are every bit as special as the clothing?
Quite a few, probably.
But the professionals and the celebrities that we’ve applauded (or envied) in other shows don’t hold a candle to the breast cancer survivors who walked the runway at . Each of them had a story that would melt your heart. And a million-dollar smile that lit up the room.
Sue Miller, who celebrated her 80th birthday on March 7, was an in-demand fashion model when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1971. Times were different then, and Miller, , experienced numerous disappointments, such as having so-called friends avoid her out of fear her cancer was contagious and seeing her modeling jobs become fewer and fewer.
It made her sad, but instead of feeling sorry for herself, Miller set out to effect change.
She persuaded the state legislature to pass a bill requiring that health-care organizations provide mammograms for women over 40; lobbied for federal funding for breast cancer research and established the Day of Caring, an annual event filled with informational workshops, a product expo, luncheon and fashion show featuring breast cancer survivors. She also wrote a book, “I’m Tougher Than I Look.”
The 2014 Evening of Caring Gala celebrated Miller’s 30 years of serving patients and their families. It also was the occasion to present the Lifetime of Caring Award to Christie and Walter Isenberg and the Sue Miller Survivor Award to Brooks Luby.
Walter Isenberg is the CEO of ; his wife is the founder of . Luby, a breast cancer survivor, is a and created 13 outfits that were modeled by Cheryl Guzofsky, Suzy Madison, Becky Haddad, Susan McKinney, Keri Christiansen, Suzanne Thomas, Elaine McCain, Arlene Mohler Johnson and Courtney Mizel.
Other fashions for the dinner event held at the were provided by and modeled by a group that included Adele Gordon, who made her first appearance on the Day of Caring runway 30 years ago; Maureen Clark; Midge Wallace; Gail Talich; Judy Carmel; Kim Wright and Laquita J. Taylor.
Evi and Evan Makovsky and Carol and Larry Mizel were honorary chairmen for the evening; the 450 guests included Miller’s husband, Harold Cohen; her children, Leslie Heins and David and Robert Miller; grandsons Nathan and Jeremy Williams; Steve Rosdal; Sandy Tenenbaum; Steve and Mitzi Kurtz; Hank Robinson; Andrea Hyatt; Doug and Sue Seserman; MJ Powers; Rick and Sheila Bugdanowitz; Warren and Helen Hanks; Susan and Bill McKinney; Scott and Rosie Painter; Gary and Barb Reece; and the executive director of the Sue Miller Day of Caring organization, Kate Van Daele, with her husband, Scott.
Online: More pictures from this event denverpost.com/seengallery
DU’s 150th year
It’s hard enough to pronounce, let alone spell, the word “sesquicentennial.” But 2014 is the University of Denver’s sesquicentennial, or 150th, year and the festivities were launched at a dinner held at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center. Joanne Davidson has details:
