"RUNWAY" FROM DIABETES: DFM HOSTS BENEFIT FASHION SHOW APRIL 24

Jackson– Strike a pose for a good cause Thursday, April 24 when the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi (DFM) hosts its fifth-annual Ultimate Fashion Show and Champagne Luncheon at the Country Club of Jackson from 11:30 to 1:30.

The Ultimate Fashion Show and Champagne Luncheon will feature a runway of colorful spring and summer fashions by CoatTails, Ballin's Ltd and the Rogue, as well as an exciting array of raffle items valued at over $5,000. Doing the catwalk to the tune of raising money for Camp Kandu– a camp for children with diabetes– models, both young and old, will shine in the season's latest classic, cool and comfortable designs for men, women and children alike.

Bold colors in staple garments and perennially stylish fashions á la mode fused with a hint of edginess will become the fabric of the DFM's annually successful Ultimate Fashion Show and Champagne Luncheon, said DFM Executive Vice President Mary Fortune.

Providing entertainment for the Fashion Show will be Lester Senter, a world-renowned mezzo-soprano who has produced 11 CDs and traveled around the globe to perform in front audiences in Dublin, Guadalajara and elsewhere. Her productions have taken her to the Smithsonian Institution and the Phillips Collection in Washington D.C., to name a few places.

Maggie Wade, WLBT Channel 3 news anchor, will serve as the Fashion Show's mistress of ceremonies.

"This is a fabulous and truly one-of-a-kind event," Fortune said. "We are honored to be at the forefront of fashion and, more importantly, diabetes care. The DFM is committed to providing care today for all of Mississippians living with diabetes, and through the Fashion Show and all of its proceeds, we have sent hundreds of children to camp."

In addition, each year the DFM honors one woman who has distinguished herself in her community through her leadership, humanitarianism and dedication to serving Mississippians. This year's recipient of the "Women of Excellence" award is Dr. Martha Dunagin Saunders, the current president of the University of Southern Mississippi and someone who has dedicated over 30 years to higher education.

During the Ultimate Fashion Show and Champagne Luncheon, Saunders will be honored for her contribution to not only the educational system but also the community and state as a whole.

Education and community service are the heartbeat of the DFM, as it works to exemplify the same characteristics of humanity and compassion demonstrated by Saunders.

Camp Kandu is just one of many outlets of this humanitarianism and care.

The DFM-sponsored camp offers parents and children alike the opportunity to learn about healthy diabetes management, including the importance of meal planning, exercising regularly and monitoring blood-glucose levels. Participants also tie-dye T-shirts, take karate lessons and paint, all the while forming friendships with other children. Because of the Fashion Show's past success, the camp continues to be free for children with diabetes.