Last Wednesday, the Susan G. Komen For the Cure at Texas Tech Youth Committee put on their second annual Catwalk for the Cure to promote breast cancer health in the Lubbock community.
The fashion show took place at 6 p.m. in the Frazier Alumni Pavilion. Guests lined the runway to watch young men volunteers model hot pink attire. Breast cancer survivors from the area escorted the guys down the catwalk and got to strut their own walk down the runway as well.
Michelle Esqueda, from Abilene and Susan G. Komen chair for her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha , went to the event to support the cause. Esqueda said the Susan G. Komen foundation is Zeta’s philanthropy and Catwalk for the Cure is the perfect way for students to get involved with everything going on with the Lubbock affiliate.
She said she thinks the show went better this year because the guys that agreed to be models this year seemed passionate about helping with the organization.
“The guys know what the cause is for and they really seem passionate about it,” said Esqueda. “They actually have some moms that have faced breast cancer, so it’s really cool to know that they’re wanting to promote awareness and to find a cure.”
The models wore everything from pink sports bras to tiaras, tutus and even 80’s wear.
Sophia Chappell, Susan G. Komen Youth Committee Chair, said last year’s catwalk was the same great show, but this year’s audience was better. She said she hopes the organization will be able to expand into an even bigger facility next year.
“I think it went really well, I’m really proud of this,” said Chappell. “Overall it’s definitely an improvement from last year and I’m just really excited.”
So how did the youth organization convince the volunteers to let loose their inner sexy strut?
Chappell said she and her committee went around Greek Circle offering incentives and service hours in hopes that guys would want to participate.
Participate they did. The purpose of Catwalk for the Cure was to not only to have an entertaining show, she said, it was also meant to educate and inform the public about breast health that many might not have known prior to the fashion show.
Chappell said she could not have done the event alone and said she was so fortunate to have such a helpful committee.
“This wasn’t an individual effort,” she said. “I didn’t plan this all by myself. I was fortunate enough to have a really good committee behind me helping me plan, so I am proud of them and I think this was a job well done for everybody.”
Some other facts about breast cancer, courtesy of Komen.org:
-Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women.
-Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths among women.
-This year, an estimated 39,840 women and 390 men will die from breast cancer in the United States.
-Without a cure, women in the U.S. have a 1 in 8 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.
-In the U.S. today, there are more than two million breast cancer survivors.
If you missed the show, be sure to check out the pictures and visit the site to learn more about breast health.
About Lauren Estlinbaum
