The 'Heroes in Heels' models proudly hold their survivor signs

Y's annual tribute to ABC program packs 'em in
By JODI RALL
For Brentwood Home Page
On Tuesday, a local car dealership was transformed into a beautiful backdrop for the “Heroes in Heels” fashion show benefiting the YMCA’s After Breast Cancer Outreach Program.

Singer, songwriter and four-year survivor Lisa Carrie Margulies and husband Alex Call.

Instead of luxury cars, beautiful breast cancer survivors were the stars inside the Andrews Cadillac showroom. They served as models, hitting the runway wearing the latest fall fashions from Belk Cool Springs.

Tuesday night’s turnout exceeded expectations with friends, family members and supporters of the ABC program packing the room.

In her third year as emcee, Taj George, a Maryland Farms Y board member and veteran of CBS’ Survivor reality show, shared that her own sister-in-law had recently lost her breast cancer battle. The reality is that one in eight women will experience the diagnosis of breast cancer and sadly, some lose their battle.

 Mary Lee Bartlett, chair of the Maryland Farms YMCA board, kicked off the night’s festivities and introduced Greg Smith, a regional vice president with Belk. This is the fifth year that the CoolSprings Galleria store has styled the show.

“Belk as a company made a commitment to Susan G. Komen to raise more than $3 million toward breast cancer research,” Smith shared with the audience.

A highlight of the evening was a vocal and instrumental performance by Lisa Carrie Margulies. A four-year survivor and participant in the ABC Program, she also modeled and gave her testimony. Joining her on stage was her husband Alex Call, who played guitar.

 Marie Balthrop shared her story of hope as she openly told of her diagnosis and journey through treatment and recovery. “I don’t  know where I would be without the ABC Program. It saved my life,” Balthrop told the audience.

The show’s finale brought all the models back to the stage holding signs showing with how long they had been breast cancer survivor.

For more information on the Y’s ABC program, click here.  

The new Pink Cadillac SUV with local ABC representatives	Emcee Taj George and Belk's Greg Smith
Representing sponsor AGLA: Mayra Zimmer, Jeanette Roch and Sharon Roberson	Pink Martini cheers: Lyn Bullock and Lois Bondesen
Mother and daughter Elisbeth Brown with Kate Trudell, Maryland Farms Y's development director	Model Denise Saucerman with sister-in-law Jan Saucerman who came to cheer her on
Andrea Zongor and Shiela Bolen	Seated, from left, Monica Hayes, Beverly Parham and Lynn Henderson, standing, Jayna Anand, Debra Lee Williamson, Heather Jones and Jaime Boone
All of the beautiful ABC models with Taj  George.	Speaker and ABC participant Marie Balthorp, with Sandra Wanamaker