Beverley Wise is a model survivor.
Fighting off some pre-runway jitters, the 77-year-old real-estate broker strutted her stuff Thursday night at the 50th annual Daffodil Fashion Show at Hawk Ridge Golf and Country Club.
She is fortunate to have made it to the catwalk. Twelve years ago, Wise had breast cancer. One year ago, she fought back against lung cancer. Ten months ago, it was skin cancer she battled.
So, the cause she was supporting Thursday night — the Canadian Cancer Society — is intimately important to Wise.
“As a cancer survivor, I want other people to know that it’s not the end of your life,” she said. “In some cases, yes, but in some cases, not. I am the ‘not,’ and I survived three times.”
The lung cancer cost Wise a portion of her lung. When facing breast cancer, she underwent a lumpectomy and radiation. She didn’t reveal until a couple of years ago that she’d had breast cancer.
When Wise was diagnosed, she owned her own real-estate company in North York. Every day after work, she would drive to Toronto’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre for radiation treatment.
“Then I went home and had dinner with my husband and moved on,” she said.
The resilience of Wise and other cancer survivors did not go unnoticed at the fashion show. In fact, the production wouldn’t have been the same without them.
“We want the survivors to be a part of it. That’s why we’re all here — to create more survivors,” said Brenda MacGregor, senior manager with the Canadian Cancer Society’s Simcoe Muskoka Community Office.
Local businesses were doing their part, too. In addition to event sponsor Casino Rama and the many who donated the 85 items to the silent auction and door prizes, companies got to show off their apparel. They didn’t just hand the models an outfit and leave it at that. They brought the clothing to Hawk Ridge, worked with the models and, in many cases, donated auction items.
“It’s a pretty big commitment for them,” MacGregor acknowledged.
Mariposa Market Scent Shop is a regular at the fashion show. Usually, Heidi Hayes is, too. Each business participating in the fashion show typically has a cancer survivor among the models, but Hayes, who has filled that role for Mariposa Scent Shop for about six years, had to write an exam Thursday night. That alone was inspiring to store manager Judy McLaughlin.
“It’s really touching,” she said. “You get to know the survivors and their stories, and then you’re seeing this beautiful, young woman who’s now going to university.”
It’s a survivor’s success story, and Wise knows it well.
“I’m very, very blessed,” she said. “Life is not a rehearsal, so enjoy it.”
That captures the spirit of the event, said MacGregor, who found the survivors’ participation and the support of the community “very moving and very touching.”
The community support included that of local firefighters, who were on hand to accompany visitors to their seats and models to the runway.
It made sense to have people who are saving lives take part, MacGregor said, because “I truly believe all of us, by coming here and supporting, are saving lives.”
The proceeds of the fundraiser will go to the Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope program, which provides cancer patients with transportation to their appointments.
“Wheels of Hope is a vital service,” MacGregor said.
Jen Jermey can attest to that. Before the fashion show got underway, she spoke to the audience about how valuable the service was to her mother.
That was years ago, and the program is still in demand. In 2017, in Orillia, 27 volunteer drivers drove a total of 255,791 kilometres, taking 124 cancer patients to 2,549 appointments. The cost associated with that is almost $74,000.
The fundraising goal for this year’s fashion show is $15,000. Before the event began, about $10,000 had been donated. MacGregor is confident the goal will be met.
“We’re very grateful for the support of everybody involved,” she said.
The following companies had their clothing modelled Thursday night: Mariposa Market Scent Shop, Simply Special, Joseph Men’s Clothier, Just Elaine’s, Eclipse, Northern Reflections, Studio Eleven, and Fashion Therapy.