12:00pm | “Our next model is Diana Mann and she’s wearing ‘CAbi’ pants and jacket along with ‘Stella and Dot’ jewelry,” says the emcee of the annual “Love Your Mentors” Fashion Show. Just four years ago Diana Mann was diagnosed with breast cancer. After three surgeries and a lot of chemotherapy, she is now a survivor and has moved beyond cancer. Diana is a full time business analyst for Hewlett Packard and in her spare time, not only does she like to model for the support group that helped her through her journey, she also designs the costumes for theatrical productions.
At this year’s “Love Your Mentors” Fashion Show, Mann had the opportunity to do just that. She was able to spend time with other Mentors and give back to the program that helped her some much. “Love Your Mentors” Fashion Show is an annual benefit for the “Women Guiding Women: Cancer Support and Education” program at the MemorialCare Breast Center at Long Beach Memorial. Mann
This unique program is a peer mentor support program for newly diagnosed women with breast and gynecologic cancers – only two of its kind in the nation for gynecologic cancer. The program lends one-on-one, over the phone support from a survivor who has been specially trained to help newly diagnosed patients navigate through their breast or gynecologic cancer journey. More than $10,000 was raised this year for the program. Through their own experience, the Mentors deliver knowledge, support, encouragement and friendship. Since every woman’s treatment plan is unique, the program carefully and selectively matches newly diagnosed woman with a Mentor who has gone through a comparable experience and similar stage of life. Because the program is free of charge and available to any newly diagnosed breast or gynecologic cancer patient, philanthropic support for the program is essential.
“I’ve been amazed at how much of my story there is to tell, how eager my Mentees are to hear it and how easy it is to forget because you try to put it behind you,” says Mann. “I believe cancer can be viewed as a gift because it makes you open your eyes, and aware of how wonderful people in your life are.”
Mann was one of many Mentors that modeled in the second annual “Love Your Mentor” Fashion Show and Auction where more than 200 supporters recently came out to support the “Women Guiding Women” program at the Long Beach Yacht Club. The benefit started with attendees bidding on silent auction items donated by local entertainment venues, retailers and program supporters followed by the fashion show that featured mentors modeling “CAbi” clothes and “Stella and Dot” jewelry. Not only did the fashion show allow mentors to strut their stuff on the cat walk but each model had their story told by an emcee to the crowd.
Event founder, Martina Rosso, a two-time survivor and Mentor came up with the idea for the benefit because she wanted to bring together survivors, women currently battling cancer and their friends and family to help support the unique program and honor her fellow mentors.
“The Fashion Show and Silent Auction were created to highlight, praise and show appreciation to the Mentors involved in the “Women Guiding Women: Cancer Support and Education” program who give so much of themselves while spreading the word and raising money for this unique support program,” says Rosso. “The program is about survivors who have taken this journey, that are trained in mentoring and are passionate in helping guide women through an overwhelming and daunting path. This is such a valuable program that helps empower women to become their own best advocates.”