Fashion Show to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis

Fashion Fights MS, a fashion show to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research, starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at the Lake Washington School District Resource Center, 16250 NE 74th St.

Fashion Fights MS, a fashion show to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research, starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at the Lake Washington School District Resource Center, 16250 NE 74th St. in Redmond Town Center. Tickets are $5 for students and teachers, $10 for adults and $20 for reserved, front row seats that include a gift from Regis Hair Salons. One hundred percent of ticket sales will go to the National MS Society and every individual donation will be tripled, thanks to two contributors who agreed to match donations.

The fashion show represents the Culminating Project of Redmond High School (RHS) senior Lisa Heard.

She said she loves fashion “and I love to put on shows that people will talk about for a long time,” but her main inspiration was her dad, who was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago. She also has a cousin who was diagnosed last year, right before her wedding.

“I don’t think that many people my age are aware of how prevalent MS is in this area,” Heard noted. More than 9,000 people in Central and Western Washington have the disease. “It is scary to think that one of my classmates could be diagnosed with MS in the next ten years. I want to raise over $5,000 to help find the cure, so that situation will never become reality.”

Fashion Fights MS will feature clothing from pajamas and school attire to formal gowns. Participating stores from Redmond Town Center include Bath & Body Works, Macy’s, PacSun, White House/Black Market and Vivid Collections.

Heard also recruited fellow students to help with the show. Senior June Songtantaruk will present 10 outfits that she designed and made. Senior Sarah Flores will do make-up for selected models. Junior Erik Fure (aka DJ Fuke) will be the DJ and more than 30 other RHS students have volunteered to model or work backstage.

Plus, the Seattle-based acoustic group Again and Again will perform.

Heard is the captain of the RHS dance team and has previously supported the National MS Society through their annual MS Walks. Since the Culminating Project is a graduation requirement, she saw the fashion show as a way to make a difference in a situation that hits close to home.

“Some of the things that I would like my peers to know about MS is that it’s a disease that not only affects the person who has it, but also their family members,” she said. “I want people to be able to understand more about the disease so that it makes more sense to their everyday lives. Since I’ve started marketing the show, I have found out that many of my classmates have someone in their families who has MS. I think that this show will help our school come together and fight MS.”

Heard plans to attend Washington State University, majoring in either accounting or business management, with a possible minor in Spanish.

For more information about Fashion Fights MS, call (425) 770-8149 or e-mail FashionFightsMS@gmail.com.