Strut For a Cure
2 Dallas nonprofits team up to fight cancer at stylish inaugural luncheon
Mary Crowley Cancer Research and the Be The Difference Foundation know how to throw a party — even if it is only their first time giving it a shot.
The two nonprofits teamed up for the first-ever Runway for Hope, a luncheon dedicated to raising funds for ovarian cancer research. Not only did they finish out the day with more than $50,000 toward that goal, they treated supporters to a delightful afternoon at Arlington Hall at Turtle Creek.
Co-chairs Lynn Lentscher and Sheryl Yonack, along with honorary chair Elizabeth Gambrell, started the event with a mini shopping experience, with a Kendra Scott jewelry pop-up (including a necklace designed especially for the event), bedazzled kitchen and office accessories from Your Queen Bead, and a silent auction.
Hopeful bidders could try for such prizes as a luxury weekend getaway in Celina, a hair makeover at Johnny Rodriguez The Salon, cult-favorite skincare products from Drunk Elephant, and an in-home consultation with a designer from ML Interiors Group.
After an introduction from Mary Crowley's Deborah Montonen and welcome from emcee Scott Murray, ovarian cancer survivor Kezhal Dashti shared her emotional story of being diagnosed in her early 20s.
Dashti then joined Ann Eisemann, Claudia Kuntz, Holly Tomlin, Jessica Baxter, Julie Bass, Lauren Shecht, Linda Bezner, Liz Vilmar, Natasha Reed, Pamela Waters, and Stacey Peterson as they modeled several trendy fall looks from Nordstrom, described in detail by Nicole Aarons.
Kuntz's daughter, Erica Kuntz, was there to volunteer as the reigning Miss Richardson, accompanied by Landry Champlin, Miss Fort Worth.
Jeanne Jones, vice president of clinical operations at Mary Crowley, and Be The Difference co-founders Lentscher, Julie Shrell, and Jill Bach rounded out the program, but not before a dedicated was made in memory of Charlotte Carothers Huthnance, who had originally been scheduled to walk in the show but passed away before the event.
Mary Crowley Cancer Research expands treatment options for all cancer patients through investigational vaccine, gene, and cellular therapies.
Be The Difference Foundation works to create awareness and improve the lives of all people affected by ovarian cancer through education, support, and research.