Stylin' Down the Runway to Benefit Avon Breast Cancer Walk

Sixty “models” will strut down the runway tonight during the fourth Annual STYLES & S.M.I.L.E.S. Breast Cancer Fashion Show at Windham High School.

The money raised will go to Windham’s BellaDonna team that will be participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Boston May 18 and 19.

This is Windham High senior Liz Colacchio’s third year walking with the team founded by resident Donna Bramante InDelicato, a breast cancer survivor. She and fellow senior Bernadette Connors co-chaired the event this year.

“Bernadette and my friend Julie Peterson are also on the team,” Colacchio said.

The models, which include 40 students, staff and community members, will be wearing outfits from local stores including TJ Maxx, Francesca's, the Gap, Men’s Wearhouse and Deb’s.

“All the stores donated the clothes for the show,” Colacchio said. “The models choose some of the clothes and the stores choose some.” Colacchio is headed to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York in the fall.

“This fashion show is so much more meaningful than a typical school event,” Colacchio said. “With each step we take on the runway, we honor all of those who have fought the battle against breast cancer.”

Colacchio has been in Windham High’s S.M.I.L.E.S. club (Spreading Meaningful Irreplaceable Life Experiences Selflessly) for four years. The club also holds a Janitorial Appreciation Day and a Camp Allen clean-up each year. Camp Allen is a summer camp for disabled children and adults in Bedford.

“Many students in the S.M.I.L.E.S. club started in middle school,” said Matt Bryant who is a club advisor along with Joe Mancinelli. Mancinelli is also walking in the Avon event. Both are science teachers at the high school.

“This year, the fashion show is pretty much student-run,” Bryant said.

The event will feature music by DJs Alpha Beats (two WHS students) and hairstyling and makeup will be done by Artistic Creations of Windham. There will also be many raffle items from area businesses.

InDelicato formed Team BellaDonna 10 years ago, and over the years more than 40 participants have joined her in the springtime Boston walk.

To date, the team has raised nearly $350,000 for breast cancer research. It has been ranked among the top Boston teams. Each participant must raise a minimum of $1,800 to participate in the 40-mile, two-day event.

This year, a dozen team members will walk including InDelicato's son, Vallen, a senior at Windham High, and friend of Colacchio and Connors.

InDelicato's daughter Victoria, a fifth-grader at Center School, will model in the fashion show and is part of the walk's Youth Crew.

The fashion show takes place tonight, at 6:30 p.m. in the Windham High School auditorium. Tickets will be sold at the door for a donation of $10 per person, or two tickets for $15. All event proceeds will go directly to the Avon Breast Cancer Foundation.

Donations to support the local team can be made online at www.avonwalk.org or on the team's website, www.teambelladonna.weebly.com.