While the crowds gathered at Brook Hollow Golf Club on Tuesday, September 24, the KidneyTexas Inc.’s Runway Report was an occasion to both celebrate past advancements made in kidney disease and to provide funds for future developments. But for producer Jan Strimple, it was a swan song after orchestrating the fashion show since its inception. She was handing off the future runway presentations to her successor Robyn Chauvin.
For Emilynn Wilson, it was a poignant salute to her late husband Claude Wilson, who had provided advice and services to help the organization transition from funding the national kidney program to North Texas groups like the 2024 beneficiaries (Baylor Scott And White Dallas Foundation, Camp Reynal, Children’s Medical Center Foundation, Methodist Health System Foundation, Southwest Transplant Alliance and Texas Health Resources Foundation).
It was during one of the talks that the sound of a flute of champagne doing a tumble was heard, splashing the guest and the floor. As the “christened” guest scurried to the restroom to dry off, her seat-mates did a quick wipe of the floor as others sought Brook Hollow staffers for assistance.
Another unscheduled “Oops” took place when Barbara Bigham introduced Emilynn to accept the Silver Anniversary Award onstage. As touching as Barbara’s recollection of Claude’s legal assistance was over the years, it was repeated by Emilynn, who admitted to the audience that having been backstage, she didn’t know what Barbara had said.
Recognition of Presenting Sponsor Natalie Taylor, Honorary Chair Lauryn Gayle White and Donna Arp Weitzman accepting the Sue Goodnight Service Award went on without a hitch as the ladies accepted the recognition from their front row chairs.
It was later in the program when Barbara returned to the stage to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award. Taking the mic in hand, she recalled the story of a friend who had tried and tried to find a donor, but to no avail. In closing, she rallied guests to become kidney donors.
Following former Dallas Cowboy/kidney donor Everson Walls‘ presenting the Everson Walls Legacy Award to Dr. Raymond Quigley, who is Medical Director for Camp Reynal, KidneyTexas President Monica Cooley and Event Co-Chairs Claire Catrino and Kaleta Blaffer Johnson had arranged for Kidney Kids/Camp Reynal campers/11-year-old twins Emily Marski and Eli Marski to be interviewed onstage by emcee Scott Murray about their time at the camp for youngster with renal disease.
The twins had been born prematurely at just four pounds. On Eli’s third day of life, he was given zero change of surviving multi-organ failures. However, over the days his organs slowly began to function — except for his kidneys. At the age of five days, he started dialysis and continued for the next 17 months until a donor was located and on October 4, 2014, a transplant took place.
In closing, Scott noted that the youngsters looked pretty sharp in their St. Bernard outfits and would be making a stroll down the runway.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
The plan had called for the brief chat with Scott to immediately be followed by Emily and Eli strolling the runway, with Dr. Quigley returning to the stage with his fiddle to accompany them.
Organizers, from the production platform to the front row, reacted with raised eyebrows and exchanged looks of, “What’s up?”
No sooner had the kids found their seats in the room than Scott admitted that he’d “messed up” and skipped that part of the program because he hadn’t worn his glasses.
Scott then revealed that following the fashion presentation and luncheon, guests were invited to have champagne at Nardos Salon and Tootsies where they could meet designer Bach Mai.
Luckily, the presentation of clothes from Betty Reiter, Nardos, St. John and Tootsies went on without an “oops.”
For more fashionable looks of the day, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.