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The Black And White Of Triumph Over Cancer

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The Black And White Of Triumph Over Cancer

By Nancy K. Crevier

White House/Black Market (WH/BM) is a chain of more than 300 fashion stores nationwide, committed to helping women feel beautiful, through sophisticated offerings in black and white and variations on that theme. For the past six years, WH/BM has been helping women feel beautiful from the inside out as well, by pairing with Living Beyond Breast Cancer during the month of October.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a nonprofit organization that helps women through all stages of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from breast cancer. Each year since 2004, WH/BM has presented a special “Give Hope” collection to raise funds for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. The company also recognizes 25 breast cancer survivors who they believe epitomize the essence of “Living Beyond Breast Cancer.”

This year, Newtown resident Kathleen Cole was selected as one of those 25 women whose courageous stories impressed judges. She is featured on the website whbm.com/givehope (link to Living Beyond Breast Cancer), and was invited to travel to the Living Beyond Breast Cancer gala “Butterfly Ball” in Philadelphia the weekend of October 2.

“Living Beyond Breast Cancer put out a call for submissions this past spring, for women to take part in the White House/Black Market annual campaign,” said Ms Cole, who was diagnosed in 2008 with breast cancer. “We had to write our story in 200 words or less, live within 250 miles of New York City, and be available either June 30 or July 1 for a photo shoot in the city,” she said. Two weeks into the month of June, Ms Cole received notification that her inspiring story had been chosen by WH/BM personnel as one of the 25 who would represent the company in its October catalog.

“I guess they were looking for stories that showed women living beyond their cancer diagnoses. I think it was my outreach, like the CHEM-pals [Cheerful Heartfelt Encouragement Messages-pals] card project I do, my involvement in Praxair Cancer Center art projects, and my self advocacy that they liked,” said Ms Cole.

Her diagnosis at an early age — 37 years old — was a shock.

“I didn’t even think about what breast cancer was until then,” she said. “No one in my family had had breast cancer, and at such a young age, I was the only one of my peers who had cancer,” said Ms Cole, who has made it a point since her diagnosis to stay informed, to attend conferences, and to get involved in support groups. “And I challenge my doctors. I do advocate for myself,” she said.

Her selection as a WH/BM model meant a trip to the City, where she joined the other 24 winners in an extravagant day of clothing fittings, hair styling, and professional makeup application at Milk Studios for the photographs that appear in the fall WH/BM catalog featuring Living Beyond Breast Cancer, as well as in ads appearing in national magazines such as October’s 25th Anniversary issue of Elle, and the September Self Magazine.

It was a wonderful experience to meet the other winners, said Ms Cole.

“Finding individuals amongst those 24, many who had also been diagnosed at a young age, was great. You gain strength from each other, and you can learn from others’ experiences,” Ms Cole said. “It’s not really a ‘club’ to which you want to belong, though,” she added.

WH/BM President Donna Noce sponsored the women to attend the October 2 Living Beyond Breast Cancer Butterfly Ball at the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia, paying for the tickets, outfitting the women, and providing accessories.

The loss of two important women in her own life, said Ms Noce on the whbm.com/givehope website, was the impetus that has led her to find ways to help, such as pairing with Living Beyond Breast Cancer. It is through the collaboration with the breast cancer support group and the promotion of strong role models such as Ms Cole and the other women, that, said Ms Noce, “We will be able to reach and touch other women.”

Like a fairy godmother, Ms Noce set it up and Danbury Fair Mall WHBM store manager Mandy Muro helped dress Ms Cole for the event, “and then sent me on my way,” Ms Cole said.

“It was an incredible experience. We really got the royal treatment at the ball,” Ms Cole said.

The money raised at the Butterfly Ball is used for the support of women diagnosed with breast cancer, and their families.

As she says in her story, viewable at www.whbm.com/GiveHope, “Although cancer has changed me, it hasn’t stopped me from living my life to the fullest.”

She is pleased to have had the opportunity to represent the thousands of strong, courageous women diagnosed every year with breast cancer, and is hopeful that her involvement in local and national support groups will inspire others. On the local level, she encourages people to take part in CHEM-pals, by dropping off a signed card of nonreligious, warm greetings in the drop box located at C.H. Booth Library. Cards are then delivered to adult cancer patients at Danbury Hospital.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a positive organization, Ms Cole said, and she is happy to have assisted this group, as well as to have been a part of the White House/Black Market campaign to fight breast cancer.

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