Hero to take runway for breast cancer fundraiser

By Meri R. Kennedy
Posted 4/18/18

The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation will host the Kentucky Derby-themed annual “Our Heroes” Fashion Show on Saturday, May 5, at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. All in attendance are asked …

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Hero to take runway for breast cancer fundraiser

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The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation will host the Kentucky Derby-themed annual “Our Heroes” Fashion Show on Saturday, May 5, at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. All in attendance are asked to dress in Kentucky Derby themed hat or outfit, although it’s not a requirement.

Walking the runway this year will be Cranston resident Carol Anthony, the Manager of Anne C Pappas Center for Breast Imaging at RI Hospital. Anthony will join a host of survivors and community heroes.

The fashion show, with doors open at 6 p.m., features sit down dinner, dessert, cash bar, music, raffle and the fashion show. Boutiques and clothiers include Sonya’s Clothing (Cranston), Carl Anthony Tuxedo’s (Cranston), Botticelli’s (North Providence), Franklin Rogers (Providence) and David’s Bridal.

“Anthony is a community hero and volunteers and promotes the foundation whenever and wherever she can,” said Foundation Director, Maria Gemma.

The fashion show started 10 years ago to help cancer patients and survivors recapture their beauty because cancer treatments and surgeries can change body shapes, skin and hair. The event reminds women that they are still beautiful, despite what cancer may have taken away.

“I am lucky enough to say that I have not had cancer and am a mammographer,” said Anthony. “Gloria Gemma is important to me because they take care of our patients when they leave our services and begin treatment in other departments or facilities.”

“Carol Anthony reached out to us as soon as she started working for the Pappas Breast Imaging Center,” said Gemma. “She has been a great partner and great advocate for the foundation.”

“When I became the mammography manager I quickly reached out to Gloria Gemma and set up a meeting with Maria Gemma and Mandy Zito at the Gemma Foundation,” said Anthony. “We quickly developed a friendship that has impacted my life in so many ways.”

Professionally, the two companies work hand in hand to service mutual patients. Gloria Gemma donated reusable ice packs with their logo to provide for patients. In the unfortunate cases where a biopsy has been found to be positive for breast cancer, the ice packs serve as a reminder that The Gloria Gemma Resource Foundation is available for them.

“The partnership between Anne C Pappas and Gloria Gemma is amazing,” said Anthony. “One phone call and I can provide someone the care and support they need. On the flip side, we try to offer support to patients that Gloria Gemma sends our way.”

“We asked Carol to be in the fashion show as a community hero, because she has been such a huge supporter of the foundation,” said Gemma. “Carol understands that breast cancer is as much an emotional disease as it is a physical one, and she connected with us, so she and her staff can better serve their patients and their needs both physically and psychologically.”

The fashion show is one of several ways Gloria Gemma creates awareness, raises required funds, and offers support.

Anthony is looking forward to her trip down the runway.

“Being in the Hero Fashion show is something that I am very excited about,” she said. “The opportunity to be a little girl again by playing dress up and parading around in fancy clothes is great. The ‘hero’ title is not something I identify with, however. I consider the radiologist, mammography technologists, and ultrasound technologists to be heroes because of the amazing care they provide our patients. The true heroes are our patients. Our patients allow us to care for them by providing excellent diagnostic services.”

This is not the first time that Anthony has been directly involved with Gloria Gemma, as she carried a torch at last year’s Flames of Hope as well as set up a display table at the Passport to Survivorship, also held during the Flames of Hope weekend.

Tickets are on sale now at buff.ly/2oPJjKT or by calling 861-4376.

A prize will be awarded for the best Kentucky Derby Hat and raffles plus a silent auction will be held that evening.

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