The Fashion Show That Helps Fight Breast Cancer

by Chuck Cascio, Staff Writer

Reston resident Theresa Goudie chairs the RTTC board. Photo contributed by Runway to the Cure

One in eight women in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer annually, with an estimated total of 316,950 cases projected for 2025, making it the most common form of cancer among women. In addition, approximately 2,800 men are diagnosed each year.

Addressing this potentially deadly disease drives the work of Runway to the Cure (RTTC), a unique nonprofit volunteer organization based in Reston. Founded in 2017 by Jane Abraham, owner of Scout & Molly’s Boutiques, RTTC has sponsored an annual fashion show at the Reston Town Center Pavilion in which 30 models—all of them breast cancer survivors—display clothing on loan from local merchants to raise funds for breast cancer research. This year’s RTTC fashion show will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5.

Reston resident Theresa Goudie chairs the RTTC board, and was a model in the first show as an official nonprofit in 2018, which generated $20,000 in donations. In each of the past two years, the fashion show has raised more than $100,000, a goal Goudie and her all-volunteer team continue to pursue. “First and foremost, our goal is to empower thrivers,” Goudie said. “And with that empowerment, we raise money for local breast cancer organizations that provide support for patients and their families, and for national research and development organizations.”

Photo courtesy of Runway to the Cure

In recent years, the free event has drawn an audience of more than 500 people, who watch as the 30 models individually walk on the Pavilion runway while their personal story is briefly broadcast over the PA system, which always brings cheers, and sometimes tears, from the crowd.

The RTTC Board of 12 women plans and runs the annual fashion show, meeting regularly to coordinate the event, find donors, and establish contact with organizations that will benefit from the funds raised. “It's a substantial commitment on the part of the board members,” Goudie said. “It's a privilege to lead this group of dedicated women, half of whom are breast cancer survivors themselves, and the other half of whom have been deeply touched by the disease in some personal way.”

As stated on the RTTC website: “When each woman walks down the runway, she isn’t running from her disease, she is owning it and demonstrating the strength required to overcome it.” Goudie emphasized that statement, saying, “We greatly appreciate our models for putting themselves out there to be part of the solution. Fundamentally, this show is about them. Every year, they walk the runway with excitement, courage, strength, determination—and yes, some nerves—but always with an outrageous sense of fashion!”

The commitment of the models does not stop at their appearance in the fashion show. “The models also create fundraising pages,” Goudie said. “In just the last three shows, we have had almost 2,000 individual and corporate donors. Plus, over the years, we have had numerous businesses contribute to our raffle and silent auction.”

All funds RTTC raises go directly to organizations supporting breast cancer research, survivors, and the families of victims. “We are a granting organization,” Goudie said, noting that recent recipients include two local organizations: the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research at Georgetown University and HealthWorks for Northern Virginia. In addition, Goudie cites other organizations that have benefited directly from RTTC’s efforts: “Each year, grants have been provided to local support nonprofits and national research and development nonprofits. Locally, we've given to Step Sisters, Tigerlily Foundation, IIIB's Foundation, and the National Breast Center Foundation. Nationally, we've given to Susan G. Komen Foundation, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, METAvivor, and the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation.”

The approach taken by RTTC, and its results, have brought appreciation from donor recipients, models, families, and event attendees alike. Goudie quoted Martha Carucci, Executive Director of the National Breast Center Foundation, as saying: "Thanks to your generous donation, we have been able to get so many more women in our community screened and, even more importantly, the critical follow-up care they need when those screenings turned up an issue." Goudie also noted that the IIIB’s Foundation, which provides “Bosom Buddy Baskets” to mastectomy survivors, has used RTTC funds “to gift almost 500 mastectomy recovery baskets.”

Abraham, now Chairman Emeritus of the RTTC Board, takes understandable pride in the work the organization has done. “I hoped my store and this fashion show would be a way to pull together retailers and residents in the community to raise research funds and to help families in the midst of their battles,” she said. “I'm thrilled that the response from the community has been overwhelming. My greatest personal reward is the joy of finding fabulous outfits for all of our models and helping make our fashion show a celebration of their lives.”

For more information about Runway for the Cure, visit their website here.

Photo courtesy of Runway to the Cure