Press Releases

February 25, 2010

Fashion Designers Support Dress In Blue Day To Fight Colon Cancer

Charleston, SC (February 25, 2010) - The second annual Dress in Blue Day for colon cancer has captured the attention of the fashion industry. National and local designers will be debuting blue collection items from their spring lines at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, SC on March 6th. The event will take place during the Unmasking Colon Cancer Ball and will feature a blue-themed runway show to raise awareness about colorectal cancer prevention and screening. The event will feature fashions from national retailers and celebrated designers, including Saks Fifth Avenue and Carmen Marc Valvo. Popular area boutiques such as Hampden Clothing are taking part in the event as well, contributing some of their well-edited and of-the-moment looks to the show.

Carmen Marc Valvo, renowned fashion designer and colon cancer survivor, will be donating feature pieces to the show. Valvo's designs, which are currently staples at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's, have graced the figures of the world's most recognized women, including Katie Couric, Kate Winslet, Vanessa Williams and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Several designers with local ties will also be contributing to the show. Charleston-based Marysia Swim, featured at Miami's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, will have five suits in the show. Marysia Swim has been featured in Lucky, Us Weekly and this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Annabelle LaRoque of LaRoque Originals will debut five original designs, including three couture gowns. These creations will be on display at Saks Fifth Avenue on March 5, National Dress in Blue Day.

Andrew Spiegel, CEO of the Colon Cancer Alliance, which launched Dress in Blue Day in 2009, is thrilled that the event has "gone blue" for 2010. "We want to promote awareness about colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and one of the few cancers that can be prevented by getting screened early, and Dress in Blue Day allows us to do this on a national level. We are grateful to the fashion industry and South Carolina for shining a spotlight on Dress in Blue Day."

Dress in Blue Day kicks off National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and takes place on the first Friday in March. The day encourages individuals, businesses and community groups to wear blue and talk to each other about the importance of colon cancer screenings. The idea for Dress in Blue Day originated in 2006 when a CCA volunteer and co-founder of Colon S.T.A.R.S. of Seattle, Anita Mitchell, wanted to find an effective way to honor a friend who had recently passed away from colon cancer and recognize others who were battling the disease. In 2009, the CCA, excited by the idea, worked with the Ms. Mitchell to bring national recognition to Dress in Blue Day.

The Unmasking Colon Cancer Ball and Fashion Show is presented by the Betty Ann Moore Colon Cancer Awareness Fund, The Center for Colon Cancer Research at the University of South Carolina Gibbs Cancer Center and South Carolina Gastroenterology Association. Tickets for the gala are $75 per person and $150 per couple, which includes dinner, dancing and entertainment. For further information about tickets and sponsorship levels, please visit http://www.cccr.sc.edu on the web or call 803-777-1231.

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The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) is the oldest and largest national patient advocacy organization dedicated to ending the suffering caused by colorectal cancer. In order to increase rates of screening and survivorship, the CCA provides patient support, education, research and advocacy across the United States.

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