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Scene & Heard - A Cut Above: A stylin' night that benefits Cancer Services
Ed Brown Photos
(Left photo) Bonnie Burchett shows off her hairstyle as emcee Austin Caviness describes it. (Right photo) Tammie Wiley, dressed as GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, poses with niece Kiley Tedder.
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Published: October 7, 2008
Imagine the surprise Saturday night when what looked like Sarah Palin walked onto the stage during the Cancer Services fundraiser at Meadowbrook Mall in Clemmons.
Dressed in a debate-style black outfit and high heels and sporting the signature dark bangs and glasses, Dr. Tammie Wiley, a pediatrician with Winston-Salem Pediatrics, was a dead ringer for the Republican vice-presidential candidate as she joined other local models during the hair-fashion show.
The fourth annual Evening in the Courtyard was organized by Hair 6000 and the Clemmons Rotary Club to raise money for the organization that "enhances the quality of life for those living with cancer and to provide the gift of life through education."
Austin Caviness, the WXII-TV meteorologist who served as emcee and auctioneer, welcomed the crowd shortly after 6:30 and gave a special thanks to Bonnie and Al Burchett. "Without them, this wouldn't have happened," he said.
"Cancer Services is a very special place for me," said Mr. Burchett, a member of the Clemmons Rotary Club. He has been a Cancer Services volunteer since 2000 and has served on the board for the past two years. "I've really grown to love the organization, and I can't say enough good things about them," he said.
Anna Cohn, Cancer Services' development coordinator, talked about the services that the "awesome organization" provides in Forsyth, Davie, Stokes and Yadkin counties. Of the annual budget, 91 percent goes to the communities to provide information, advocacy, medication, financial assistance and equipment, she said.
Cohn had one very important thing to say in closing. "To all the ladies out there, the redhead in the show is my husband, and he's taken." James Cohn is a second-year law school student at Wake Forest University.
I'll admit I noticed his red hair in the crowd. We talked about the fundraiser. "This event is important because it gets the community aware of what Cancer Services does," he said. In addition to practical support, he said, it offers something even more important -- understanding. "In order to really help, you need to have gone through it yourself," he said.
Cheryl Lambert, the owner of Hair 6000, sees how cancer affects her clients. That's why she devotes so much time to organizing the fundraiser. "We have so many customers who have friends and family who have cancer, and we feel so fortunate that we're healthy and can work," she said.
Lambert was joined in creating the fashion show by stylists Toney Miller, Kelly Noel and Dana Dyson. "Their commitment to Cancer Services is so obvious," Burchett said. His wife, Bonnie, acted as the narrator for the fashion show. She dedicated the night to "all who are battling cancer and to cancer survivors. Our prayers are with you."
One of the first models was Carolyn Huggins, a GMAC employee, who looked fabulous modeling hair that was described as the "tussled swing look." Other models wore styles labeled "short and spunky" and "rebellious and spiky." "Sassy pixie" was the phrase used for Nancy Moore's hair. Moore moved to Mocksville a couple of years ago from Fredricksburg, Va., with her husband, R.C.
One of the stars of the fashion show was Debbie McCliment, a cancer survivor. On stage with her were her mother, Judy Yarbrough, and her daughter Anna Rae McCliment. Her husband, Craig, cheered from the audience. He talked about his wife's diagnosis in 1985, shortly after the two were married. "It was really scary," he said. "The support we got from family and friends was essential."
The final hair model was a surprise for Caviness -- his mother, Maude Wells, who serves in the mission field in China. "I love to see the community get involved like this," she said. "The ladies in the salon were so accommodating to me, and I was really humbled by the way they took me in and treated me so well."
A lot of people from the community worked together to make the night a success. Don Timmons, the Triad regional director for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, donated a collection of teddy bears to the fundraiser. Sandi and Nelson White solicited food from area restaurants. One of the food contributors was Debbie Lee, a co-owner of Blue Ridge Ice Creams in Winston-Salem. She spent three hours dishing up ice cream because she "really believes in the program."
Julie and Jon Lanford sold tickets at the door. Mrs. Lanford is a registered dietician with Cancer Services, a position she describes as her "dream job." "It allows me to pursue my passion for caring for people," she said.
Kirk and Catherine Vlastakis got front-row seats for the hair-fashion show. Clay Dyson was on hand to support his wife, Dana, a stylist, and his mother, Sandra Brooks, a model. Also in the audience was Mrs. Brooks' husband, Steve Brooks.
I don't think I've ever seen anybody so excited about winning a door prize as Nick Maresco, 10, who dashed through the crowd with his sister Marley, 8, to retrieve a gift certificate for a one-hour massage. Their mother, Dina Maresco, was delighted. Attending the fundraiser with them was Terry Goforth.
As is so often the case, right when I'm ready to head for home I meet someone who makes me glad I came. That happened when I met Carlene Smith and her husband, Thomas.
Mrs. Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2001. She responded well to treatment, but in May of that year was told the cancer had metastasized and that she needed chemotherapy. "I felt like somebody had kicked the wind out of my sails," she said. Her doctor recommended that she visit Cancer Services.
"I entered their office with fear, but I left with peace and hope," she said.
On Saturday night, it looked like the wind had returned to her sails with full force.
■ Have a social or charity activity that you would like Scene & Heard to share with Journal readers? E-mail features@wsjournal.com and type "Scene" in the subject line or call 727-7339. You may contact Leigh Somerville McMillan directly by e-mail at leigh@studiomcmillan.com.
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