Models touched by an angel

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Haderra Chisick helps the 'special models' at CancerCare Manitoba's Guardian Angel benefit prepare for the runway. (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ) Photo Store

Haderra Chisick sees her volunteer work for this year's CancerCare Manitoba Foundation's 21st Guardian Angel benefit fashion show and dinner as a sort of "pay it forward."

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2008... It was a wild year for me. I went through lots of surgery, chemo and radiation, the whole gamut," says Chisick.

"A couple of years later I was invited to be a special model at the Guardian Angel benefit. Although I was a little reluctant to do it, my daughter pushed me out there and said 'go ahead, you need to do that,' and I had a blast doing it."

In past years, the fashion show had a combination of professional models and "special models" -- women survivors of cancer. This year they've decided to only have special models at the fashion show, including male survivors of cancer.

"Because Haderra was a special model in the past, I phoned her up and asked her if she would be able to sit on the committee this year and be in charge of the special models," says Ida Albo, Guardian Angel Committee Chair. "She didn't even hesitate in saying yes."

Chisick has been working hard to support and prepare 26 special models for the show, including organizing luncheons to get to know each other, fittings, scheduling for makeup and hair and getting the models' bios together. And she's been taking the time to listen to the models and hear their stories.

"This event wouldn't be possible without Haderra's hard work," says Albo, who is among this year's special models. "Being a special model, it's something pretty powerful. For some people, it can be difficult to walk down that runway, in front of 1,000 people, and essentially celebrate that you're a survivor. It's something that can be both emotionally and physically hard. But because Haderra has been through it herself, she understands what the special models are going through and helps them through it."

Adds Chisick: "We have the men modelling and the women, which I think is really nice, because cancer touches a lot of people. The men modelling happen to have had cancer but I think there are a lot of men affected by women having cancer -- whether it be friends, spouses, sisters or mothers -- so it's really nice we're trying to bring a lot more men into this benefit."

The busy mother of two -- Adam, 30 and Samantha, 28 -- helps run a business, Urban Mine, with her husband Mark and says she's been doing well health-wise.

"I'm doing fine, so far a clean bill of health," Chisick says, with a smile. "I think that everybody wants to give something back to the community, and when you go through treatments and stress, there's always a lot of amazing people around CancerCare Manitoba, doctors and volunteers, you just want to give something back, and this is my way of paying it forward."

The Guardian Angel Benefit takes place Oct. 25 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. This year's event features special guest speaker Cynthia Nixon, a survivor of breast cancer best known for her portrayal of Miranda Hobbes in HBO's Sex and the City.

The benefit also includes a gourmet dinner, silent auction and fashion show featuring five local and international. retailers. Proceeds for the event go to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation for prevention, early detection, treatment, research and patient care.

One of the numerous projects entirely funded by the benefit event is the Guardian Angel Caring Room, which serves over 1,000 women each year in Manitoba. Women receive emotional support, help with appearance-related side-effects of cancer and its treatment including the Look Good Feel Better program, information on cancer-related topics and the loan of wigs and turbans.

For more information about the event, how to buy tickets or to make a donation, visit www.cancercarefdn.mb.ca/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid1006 .

If you know a special volunteer who strives to make his or her community a better place to live, please contact Carolyn Shimmin at carolynshimmin@gmail.com.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 17, 2012 B2