On Wednesday 24 April, Hampshire designer boutique, Moda Rosa, raised £40,000 at a glamorous charity fashion show, held at Lime Wood in the New Forest, to go towards a major fundraising campaign to raise £2.5 million to provide a unique breast cancer support centre for the South, The Wessex Haven.
The Haven is the only national charity that provides free of charge, one-to-one, tailor-made emotional and physical support and therapies to improve the lives of anyone affected by breast cancer. There are currently three Haven centres in London, Leeds and Hereford. In 2011, 2682 people were treated for breast cancer at Wessex hospitals confirming that the region has one of the highest rates of incidence in the UK. With this in mind, The Haven has identified Wessex as the location for the fourth Haven. HRH The Prince of Wales is the Patron of The Haven charity, while HRH The Countess of Wessex is President of the Haven's Guardian Programme.
The fashion show, which officially launched the Wessex Haven appeal, was attended by 250 guests each paying £100 to attend with all proceeds going to the charity. Models from London's Storm Agency showed the spectacular 2013 Spring/Summer collections available at Moda Rosa from renowned designers such as Alice Temperley, Armani, Versace, Moschino, Diane Von Furstenberg, Issa, Milly, Project D, Joseph, Jenny Packham, Libelula, Paule Ka, Paul Smith, Gina Shoes with hats by Philip Treacy and Vivien Sheriff.
Guests included Sally Taylor, BBC South's presenter and Chair of the Wessex Haven fundraising committee, Sarah Parrish, Lady Emma Fellowes, Madeleine Lloyd-Webber, hat designer Philip Treacy, fashion designer Tabitha Webb and newsreader, Alistair Stewart.
Guests enjoyed a champagne reception with canapés prepared by Lime Wood's new restaurant venture - Hartnett Holder & Co with both Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder overseeing this event.
Steve Brine, MP for Winchester and Chandler's Ford and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Committee for Breast Cancer, commented: "Breast cancer has been so high profile for such a long time now it's easy to think the battle is won but it isn't and the numbers being diagnosed, especially among older women, are actually rising. We need The Haven here in the South as soon as possible, to work alongside existing cancer facilities as well as the NHS, and I know my constituents are going to value it greatly. I'm right behind this campaign."
Pamela Healy OBE, The Haven's Chief Executive, added: "We were absolutely thrilled with the event and the wonderful support we got from the guests on the night. The £40,000 raised will go a long way in helping us realise our ambition to open a new Haven centre in Wessex where we know we are needed."
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