General News
7 August, 2025
A bit of fun for a good cause
A fun, light-hearted fashion parade on August 20 will raise funds for an organisation dedicated to improving treatment and outcomes for women facing gynaecological cancer.
Stawell Salvation Army Thrift Shop’s fundraising event will support Cherish Women’s Cancer Foundation, building on last year’s inaugural fashion show which raised money to support a breast cancer charity.
Stawell Salvos Thrift Shop manager Rebecca Formosa is excited about putting on this year’s fashion show.
“We did our first one last year and it was to raise funds for breast cancer because we had a colleague who was battling breast cancer,” said Rebecca.
“This year we found out one of our volunteers has been diagnosed with endometrial cancer and none of us had heard of it, and none of us have heard of all these other cancers that women get and can’t be tested for in the regular ways.
“So we thought, to support her, this year’s fashion parade will be that cause, they’re called Cherish Women’s Cancer Foundation.”
Rebecca said last year’s event had been successful and a great starting point for what is shaping up to be an annual event.
“It was fantastic, we had fun,” she said, “It was our first year, so it wasn’t perfect, we’re gonna upgrade it this year and we’ve got a bit more going on.”
“There’ll be six models, there’s three outfit changes, there’ll be wedding, there’ll be sports and then there’ll be the daggiest of daggiest op-shop clothes we can find, so it’s a bit of fun.
“Tickets are $25 and you get nibbles that our volunteers make, and you can shop in the shop as well which is great for people who work all day and don’t usually get a chance to drop in for a look.”
The event will also feature a silent auction, with Rebecca adding that the Salvos are still very much welcoming donations from the community to include in the silent auction, with all proceeds going towards Cherish Women’s Cancer Foundation.
The fashion parade will run from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the Stawell Salvos Thrift Shop, located at 35 Wimmera Street, Stawell.
Tickets are limited and bookings, as well as donations for the silent auction, can be made by contacting the Salvos on 5358 2657.
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