Hospice staff strut their stuff at charity fashion show

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice staff and supporters hit the catwalk all in the name of fashion and fundraising!

The hospice hosted its first ever charity fashion show in their Dorridge boutique store on Thursday 18th February to raise awareness of hospice care and its high-end charity shops.

Around £500 of vital funds was raised on the night through sales and a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses.

It costs around £8 million each year to run Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice which is free of charge to terminally ill patients and their families across Birmingham and Sandwell.

The charity fashion show was part of the ‘Love your Local Hospice’ campaign this February.

For the very first time, 16 hospices from the West Midlands have joined forces to raise awareness of the care they provide and their importance played in local communities.

The catwalk consisted of four key themes and saw hospice nurses, staff and supporters model day, work, party and occasion wear. Models wore brands and labels such as Hobbs, Karen Millen, French Connection, Nine West, Jacques Vert and Coast.

The outfits, kindly styled by local stylist Emily Jayne Phillips and Lisa Smith of Prepared PR, were all selected from the Dorridge and Bournville boutiques.

Iain Miller, Head of Trading at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice said: “It was great to be involved in the ‘Love your Local Hospice’ fashion show. Our charity shops play a vital role in raising funds – whether you buy, volunteer or donate.

“Our two boutique stores offer shoppers the best designer and high street picks without breaking the bank – all whilst supporting your local hospice.

“The catwalk was a great way to show this and the support we had from the local community was just fantastic.”

For more information on the ‘Love your Local Hospice’ campaign and charity shops: www.birminghamhospice.org.uk

Photo: Events Manager Lucy Watkins, Nursing Assistant Karen Weidlein-Palmer and Day Hospice Sister Jenny Evitts from Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice modelling outfits from the Dorridge boutique (480 Station Road, B93 8HP).