Three-year-old Kira Hall is proud to strut her stuff around her Willoughby home, and show off her fashion sense to mom.
But Saturday night will be her public debut as a “fashion diva” and her mother Meaghan won’t be too shocked if she has to carry Kira down the runway in her arms, the youngster’s face buried in the nape of mom’s neck.
“At home, she’s all over it,” Meaghan explained. “But she can be shy in public, so we’ll have to see how this goes.”
Kira is one of three Langley kids taking part in a special fashion show to aid BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) this weekend.
Show of Styles – Kids with Smiles is a fashion show happening Saturday, May 28, at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown.
And the evening fashion show features 11 models – all past and current patients of BCCH – who are anxious to help raise money and awareness for the Vancouver-based medical facility.
“We would pretty much do anything for BCCH, from now until the end of time,” Meaghan said.
Kira was diagnosed Dec. 4, 2014 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
“She is doing awesome with the help of BCCH,” and is expected to complete her maintenance treatments in February 2017, mom explained.
While Kira’s big fashioning her polka dot outfits, and pretty much anything “pink, purple, and sparkles,” we’re told she also loves dancing, soccer, baking, and her baby brother Gavin (14 months old).
If Kira could make a wish, it would be to go to Disney World to meet the princesses.
When she grows up, she wants to be a “singing doctor.”
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CAPTION: Seven-year-old Kaden Artemenko
In addition to Kira, she’ll be joined on stage by fellow Langleyite, seven-year-old Kaden Artemenko.
He was born at 25 weeks old, and spent the first five months of at BCCH, where he fought for his life as an “extreme premie.”
He couldn’t breathe or eat on his own, and also developed several life-threatening infections.
But his will to live, the love of his family, and the “amazing care of BC Children’s Hospital” is credited with pulling him through.
For Kaden, an experienced fashion show participant, he’s looking forward to getting back on the runway to strut his stuff and help raise money to “help sick kids get better.”
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CAPTION: 14-year-old Alyssa Champion
Also from Langley is 14-year-old Alyssa Champion, who first started going to BCCH at age three.
She was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. She was the second patient at the facility to undergo a new surgery/technology installed in her back and rib cage.
In total, she had about 20 surgeries in 11 years, and the aspiring dancer is now revelling in ballet, jazz, hip hop, and musical theatre – refusing to let her diagnosis stop her from doing what she loves.
Show of Styles was created by Maple Ridge’s Carissa Dean at the age of 16, as a way to give back to BC Children’s Hospital.
Dean, now 22, spent a brief period of time at BCCH being treated for scoliosis between 2009 and 2012. Given her personal experience, she knew she had to do something.
Since the creation of the show, she has held three fashion shows, raised more than $17,000, and seen more than 25 patients of the hospital transformed into “stars.”
Saturday night’s show, she hopes, will raise a further $8,000, although she noted sponsorships have been “off.”
The show kicks off at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30, at the Hilton, 6083 McKay Ave. in Burnaby.
Tickets are $20 and available at the door.
“The show is not possible without generous sponsors, family, and friends donating everything from time and support to generous donations,” she said.