Haiti Cherie Fashion Show

Over the years we have watched on television and heard on the radio about the natural disasters that have plagued such countries like Haiti and not only left thousands dead but wiped out whole cities and towns. Now is our chance to help thanks to Sarah Norris, 23, a very caring and charitable young woman who not only knows the severity of the disasters but of the lack of help the victims have actually received.

Sarah has given us the chance to do our part and in aid of the people of Haiti has set up a fashion show where a hundred percent of the proceedings will be donated to the cause. This fashion show is on the 24^th of Feb at the Dalton Rooms, Lancaster and will start at 730pm. The tickets cost as little as £3 and the guests will expect to see a whole range of fashion from the likes of Room 12, Joseph and co and Deborah Jane. The hair and makeup will also be done by Tony and Guy and bands and dancers will also be featured.

Sarah has a very personal link to Haiti as she spent a few years living there when she was younger and considers it her second home. She even went over there six months after the earthquake in 2010 to help friends and see the devastation. She wants to make it clear to people that things have not changed radically enough,

“When I went there I felt as though nobody was doing anything, buildings that had collapsed 6 months ago were still lying there, so I was asked by friends to help raise money and I was more than happy to help.”

For some of us the idea that Haiti is still in crisis is absurd but we have to take into account that just because the devastation is no longer shown on the news it doesn’t mean that the horror is over for the people there.

Despite organising all of this herself, Sarah persists that it is something she has enjoyed and is extremely grateful for all the people that have got involved. She is especially thankful to her friend, who is also the manager of the Dalton Rooms, Jade Mapp-Mckenzie, who gave her the venue for her fundraiser, free of charge. The clothes have also been donated free of charge by the high street stores and the models, bands and dancers are all volunteering. One of the models appearing is our very own Miss Morecambe, Steph Jackson. Sarah says,

“It’s amazing how many people want to help and also how many people now know about it, I set up an event on facebook, invited my friends and I’ve now got people coming who I have never met, which is great.”

When Sarah goes over to Haiti she works alongside Hearts with Haiti, a non profitable organisation that over the years has built 3 orphanages and a school, which brings boys off the streets and provides them with a good home and family. Unfortunately the earthquake brought down 2 of these orphanages and they are now planning to rebuild with the help of fundraising.

Over the past couple of years Haiti has been the victim of severe torrential rain, which started in 2008, causing whole communities to be washed out and the death toll rising by the hundred each day. Not long after this, and far from recovery, Haiti was then hit in 2010 by a devastating earthquake which, according to Red Cross, affected over 3 million people. Now Haiti is unrecognisable to the country it was 4 years ago, with poverty at it’s height and people still missing, it’s time we pulled together and thought about the hundreds of people still suffering.

So if you feel as though you would like to contribute to this much needed cause contact Sarah at S0701503@Cumbria.ac.uk, where you will be able to buy tickets for the event, or even to place a small donation for the people of Haiti.