PORT McNEILL—Mardi Gras came early to the North Island Saturday night, and local cancer victims will be the beneficiaries.
The third annual Victor’s Secret Fashion Show brought a sold-out crowd to the local Community Hall to watch — and spend — as 16 men modelled bras created for the 2013 Bras for a Cause cancer-fighting fundraiser at Port McNeill’s Flower Shoppe.
Backed by music provided by DJ Matt Reimer and exhorted by master of ceremonies Shay Peterson, the guys drew whoops and earned strings of beads by strutting down the runway in the brightly-coloured foundation garments.
Organizer Cheryl Verbrugge thanked other volunteers and models for helping raise more than $10,000 that will help local cancer sufferers through transportation and housing for remote treatment and other benefits.
Victor’s Secret has grown from the brainchild of Flower Shoppe owner Lyn Skrlac, who has raised thousands of dollars to aid breast cancer research and treatment through a summer fund-raiser involving the creation and display of decorated and themed bras. Following the second ‘Bras’ promotion, Verbrugge stepped in with the help of her sister, Tammi Beek, and other volunteers to create the Victor’s Secret fashion show and pageant, which has utilized the same bras to raise thousands more for North Island victims.
Organizers hope the bras will continue to give in the coming year, through the sale of DVDs and souvenir calendars of Saturday’s fashion show. Stay tuned to the Gazette for details on these promotions; meanwhile, here are a few of our favourite images of Saturday’s event.