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Cancer Fashion Show
February 22, 2008 |
Watching her work it on the runway, you’d never thing that five
years ago Jennifer Neilson was diagnosed with a deadly brain cancer. “I have a brain tumor.
They took 85 percent of my brain tumor out.
15 is still in,” says Neilson. She is a
licensed, certified, critical care therapist with a Master’s Degree in social
work. With all of her knowledge the
37-year-old was determined to battle her brain cancer. “I couldn’t stand up or
walk or anything, no talking so I produced everything because I’m walking and
I’m talking and I now have brain function.”
Recently this cancer survivor turned herself into a fashion model. She says, “I want to show
them how great I’m doing.” Jennifer was
one of several survivors strutting their stuff at a fashion show designed to
raise money for Lee Cancer Care. Sharon
MacDonald is the Vice President of Cancer Services.
Even though she hears stories of survival every day, she says they never cease
to amaze her. “The biggest thing for all of those folks is that they have gotten
their groove back. What they do for the
community is to give them a very clear message that you can live and survive
this disease and it isn’t something that really has to take away your courage.” Tanger outlets donated
more than 10,000 dollars worth of prizes and fashions to help the cause.
Sharon
says, “We’ve been very blessed over the last ten years to have
community partners like Tanger and others that have really stepped forward
because you know cancer is not an individual disease it’s a family and community
disease.” Portions of the fundraiser
will go towards building the free standing cancer center on the corner of I-75
and
Colonial Boulevard. You can call
(239)-985-3550 if you want to donate time or money to Lee Cancer facilities and
programs. |
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