Breast cancer survivor Virginia Seibel walks down the runway during the first annual Survivor Fashion Show at Wine and Roses in Lodi on Monday night. (Angelina Gervasi/News-Sentinel)

First-ever cancer survivor fashion show kicks off Pink October

A group of local women whistled and cheered when Pearl Malmlov, 86, walked into the main room of Ciao Bella salon on Monday.

Malmlov, a breast cancer survivor, and 19 other survivors, were treated to an afternoon of pampering before modeling in a Survivor Fashion Show for Pink October, breast cancer awareness month.

Malmlov would be modeling Harley Davidson fashions and riding on a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

"I'm flabbergasted," she said. "Everyone has been so enthusiastic and so helpful."

The women had their hair, makeup and nails done and were treated to lunch and champagne. Channel 13 came in at noon and would be broadcasting the event at 5 and 10 p.m. on Monday, said Jamie Watts, who works at Geweke.

The Survivor Fashion Show is the first event in Lodi for Pink October, and several other awareness events will be held this month. The survivors would be modeling clothes from Valley Harley Davidson, Casa Gonzalez Bridal Boutique, Pret and Spectator.

"Tonight is about celebrating life, celebrating the models and the survivors," she said. "It's been a labor of love."

Cassandra Durst, of Acampo, volunteered to model in the fashion show to raise money for local cancer patients. She wasn't expecting the pampering on Monday.

"We're doing things we'd never do -- it's so exciting," she said. She is modeling Harley Davidson clothes and said it was fun to go to the store in Stockton, meet the staff and choose clothes.

Durst said she often speaks as a survivor for the American Cancer Society. She is inspired to see all the other survivors.

"There's a common thread," she said. "Even with different lifestyles ... they're happy and making the most of life."

Jolene Bryant, owner of Ciao Bella, got the salon involved because of Kelly Higgs, one of the Pink October event coordinators. She has known Higgs, a breast cancer survivor, for many years.

"We have all been touched by cancer, so we're happy to do this," Bryant said.

One survivor, Doris Cortez-Sumner, would be modeling a wedding gown from Casa Gonzalez Bridal Boutique in Lodi.

"I'm happy because I'm part of this big event that I never imagined I could be in," she said.

She hopes to speak to Hispanic women and tell them to go to the doctor because they tend to be afraid to talk about things like breast cancer.

Kendra Mattingly, a designer and stylist at Ciao Bella said this was the happiest group of women she's seen.

"These women represent hope," she said.

The fashion show was held at Wine and Roses in Lodi on Monday evening.

Other events this month include:

• Low-cost women's health screenings will be Monday through Saturday at Woodbridge Community Clinic -- for information, call 370-1700. Another women's health screening will be held on Oct. 28 and 29 by the Grocery Outlet on the corner of Lodi Avenue and Washington Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., provided by Delta Radiology and St. Joseph's Medical Center. For information, call 467-6435.

• Denim Wednesdays will be every Wednesday of this month; women are encouraged to wear denim, as well as a pink ribbon.

• Cancer survivor, author and speaker Becky Olson will offer a free seminar on breast education on Oct. 12 at Lodi Memorial Hospital at 6:30 p.m. She has written a book called "The Hat That Saved My Life." For information, call 333-7463.

• A "Sale for the Cure" garage sale will be held on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 45 S. Cherokee Lane, Lodi. For more information, call 371-2273.

• The Race for Awareness will be held on Oct. 22 at Geweke RV, 880 S. Beckman Road, Lodi. Registration is $25. For more information, call 371-2273 or 371-2275.

• The Cattle Baron's Ball will be Oct. 15 at the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds from 7 p.m. to midnight. For more information, call 941-2676.

Contact reporter Jennifer Snyder at jennifers@lodinews.com.