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Annual Show Is Fashioned For A Good Cause

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By LAURA FRAZIER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 19, 2007

VALRICO - Roz Creager is on a first-name basis with many women who frequent her gift shop, The Green Boutique.

In the past 20 years, Creager said, too many of her regular customers at her store at 1014 Bloomingdale Ave. have shared stories about battling breast cancer.

'Women will come in and tell us they were just diagnosed. Later they'll come back, and they're going through treatment. ... sometimes their hair is falling out,' Creager said. 'For any woman, it's a very frightening disease.

'I've never had breast cancer, but through the women I've met at the shop, I feel like I've been a part of it. You are considered a breast cancer survivor the day you are diagnosed. We need better treatments and better services to support survivors.'

When Cimino Elementary School Principal Sandra Frost died from the disease in 2004, Creager took it personally. The school, on Culbreath Road in Bloomingdale, was named for her late father, Dick Cimino.

Creager signed up to volunteer with the American Cancer Society in 2005 and agreed to chair its annual Breast Cancer Survivor Fashion Show. She will chair the fundraiser next month for the third consecutive year.

This year's show, 'Spotlight On A Cure,' will be Oct. 6 at The Palmetto Club in FishHawk Ranch. Local breast cancer survivors will model fashions from SteinMart. A luncheon and silent auction will follow.

'The show benefits our local chapter, which provides cancer patients with services like support groups, educational programs, free wigs, scarves and makeup,' Creager said.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the national society to fund research for a cure.

The event also helps raise the spirits of its models.

Creager recalled one model from last year who had survived three types of cancer.

'Even up to the time she tried on the clothes. ... You could tell she felt terrible about herself. But when she got up on that stage to all that applause and support, she was strutting,' she said.

Sponsorships and donations are being accepted, and more models are welcome.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: American Cancer Society's fifth annual Breast Cancer Survivor Fashion Show
WHERE: The Palmetto Club, 17004 Dorman Road

WHEN: 10 a.m. Oct. 6

TICKETS: Reservations are $40 per person and include lunch; call Kyle Wierda, (813) 685-0670

FOR INFORMATION: Call Roz Creager, (813) 685-9494

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523 or lfrazier@tampatrib.com.

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