Dillard's is looking for cancer survivors for Cancer Awareness Day fashion show

Dillard's Department Store in Aiken Mall is looking for local cancer survivors to strut their stuff on the catwalk during the store's third annual Dillard's/American Red Cross Cancer Awareness Day.

The Cancer Awareness Day will take place from noon to 7 p.m. Friday, July 17, with information tables by the Savannah River Cancer Foundation, the American Cancer Society and the Cancer Care Institute at Aiken Regional Medical Centers.

There will be artists painting head art for cancer patients and drawings to win prizes throughout the day in many of the store's departments, according to Deborah Henderson, Dillard's area sales manager for lingerie and shoes, who is in charge of the event.

"We hope to make people more aware of the early warning signs of cancer and to encourage them to get checked up for breast cancer, prostate cancer, any of the cancers. There are at least three of our sales associates here who have had breast cancer," Henderson said. "We also want to make people aware of the resources out there in Aiken like the Savannah River Cancer Foundation and the assistance they give to cancer patients. When my husband had pancreatic cancer five years ago, I was really struggling with all the shots and the doctors' appointments, and I didn't even know this kind of aid existed; it would've been a huge help."

The centerpiece of the event will be a fashion show at 2 p.m., with cancer survivors as models. The store is looking for volunteers to model in the fashion show now, according to Henderson.

"We're looking for cancer survivors of any age, any size. We need to get them signed up now so we can get them fitted and ready, and information cards written up for the fashion show," she said. "Right now we're planning for all women, but we'd be more than happy to have men too, if anyone wants to do it."

For more information about the Cancer Awareness Day, call Dillard's at 649-1141.

To sign up for the fashion show, call Dillard's at the same number and ask for fashion show coordinator Lillie May.

Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.