Fashion show in Dorchester raises hundreds for Haiti appeal (From Dorset Echo)

Fashion show in Dorchester raises hundreds for Haiti appeal

3:00pm Monday 15th March 2010 in

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MODELS stepped up the fundraising efforts in Dorchester for Haiti at a fashion show.

They donned the latest styles for the Area Fashion store-organised extravaganza at the Corn Exchange.

Senior sales assistant Sophia Burton and manager Gina Piper organised the event after seeing the plight of disaster victims in Haiti.

Gina said: “We were very pleased with the way it went.

“About 70 people turned up and we made about £650, which we were happy with as it will buy a Shelterbox.”

Gina added: “Everyone said it was a great evening.

“Our thanks go to all who came along and took part in the event. We really appreciated it.”

Area fashion, in High East Street, organised the event with help from bands and young models from the Thomas Hardye School.

They raised the money for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to put towards shelterboxes.

Singer Sheryl Lee performed an upbeat set before the first half of the fashion show.

Guests browsed around stalls and stands from other shops during the interval before a raffle afterwards.

Donated prizes included a £45 haircut from Toni and Guy, a handbag and gift voucher from Figure Eight, a vintage bottle of wine from Majestic Wine and a watch from Area.

After the show, Dorchester band Thomas And The Mock Ups played and guests carried on browsing and buying from the stalls.

The event was the latest of a series of fundraisers held in the town to raise cash for Haiti.

Members of the Dorchester Rotary Club and Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary Club have raised more than £33,000 for the appeal.

The amount represented a third of the total money raised in the South West Rotary region.

Money was used to purchase Shelterboxes with tents and cooking equipment.

It also bought water survival boxes with water purification and survival aids for five people for six months.

Schools have also pitched in to raise money for the victims in Haiti.

Pupils at St Mary’s Middle School presented a cheque for £1,031 for the appeal after a Hats for Haiti day.

And teaching staff and students braved overnight temperatures of -4C as they bedded down for the night on cardboard boxes in a sponsored sleep-out at the Thomas Hardye School.