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Where did the time go? It's hard to believe that we have already celebrated the 3rd Annual Bags & Blessings Fashion Show! What began as a special event to highlight local cancer survivors and the incredible strength within our community has grown into something truly meaningful. Thanks to your support and enthusiasm, this event continues to grow, and we are hopeful it will remain an annual celebration for many years to come.
This year's fashion show was our largest yet, with more than 350 tickets sold and a room filled with love, encouragement, laughter, and inspiration. Our models brought incredible energy to the stage, and their courage, strength, and enthusiasm made the event unforgettable. Watching them dance, smile, and celebrate their journeys reminded us all that cancer does not define a person—it reveals their resilience.
A special thank you goes to Jocelyn Phillips and her "Dirty Dancers," along with our dedicated Bags & Blessings committee members, for creating such a fun and memorable opening performance to "I've Had the Time of My Life." Their enthusiasm and willingness to step outside their comfort zones set the tone for an afternoon filled with joy and celebration.
This past year has been filled with continued growth and memorable moments for Bags & Blessings. We are now well into our time at our home at 421 Railroad Street in Rochester, where we are able to serve as a resource for our community. In addition to our monthly support group for those who have been diagnosed with cancer, we offer exercise classes that are open to everyone in the community. We invite you to stop by, get involved, and become part of the Bags & Blessings family.
With the continued support of our community, Bags & Blessings has been able to grow and expand our outreach in meaningful ways. To date, we have distributed more than 1,750 Christmas Bags to patients undergoing treatment, over 600 Blossom Bags, planted hundreds of trees in our local parks through our Tree Memorial Program, and extended our presence throughout Beaver County in support of those facing cancer.
Finally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our generous sponsors and the many local businesses who continue to believe in and support the mission of Bags & Blessings. Your generosity does far more than support our events—you are helping us bring comfort, encouragement, and hope to individuals and families facing a cancer diagnosis. By partnering with us, you are truly walking alongside us in this journey and making a meaningful difference in our community.
As we celebrate the success of another incredible Fashion Show, we are already hard at work preparing for our 8th Annual Bags & Blessings Walk/Run, scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Beaver Area Heritage Museum, 1 River Road, Beaver. Our famous Basket Auction will take place the day before on Friday, September 11, from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM at 199 Boundary Lane, Bridgewater. You won't want to miss this year's event as we unveil a special commemorative race shirt honoring two significant milestones—the 250th Birthday of the United States and the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, remembering those whose lives were forever changed on that day. Whether you walk, run, sponsor, donate a basket, or simply cheer on participants, we invite you to join us as we come together in support of those facing cancer. Help us make this our largest celebration yet!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Robin Redfern
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