The South Central Cancer Resource fashion show returned to the Meridian Exhibition Centre in Winkler Thursday evening, drawing a near-capacity crowd in support of cancer patients and their families across the region. SCCR board chair Shannon Bergsma said organizers were excited to once again see strong community support for what has become the organization’s signature annual fundraiser. The event featured runway models connected to cancer in different ways, including those currently undergoing treatment, survivors, family members and supporters. Personal stories take centre stage One of those participants was Steve “Bubba” Peters, who walked the runway with a deeply personal connection to the cause. This year marked Peters’ first time participating in the event. He said he took part both as a cancer survivor and in memory of his grandfather, who died from cancer about 25 years ago. Peters shared that in 2017 he discovered a small lump near his throat, about the size of a marble, which eventually led to a diagnosis of a rare form of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “I was at work and I got a phone call and they said, ‘This is cancer care,’” Peters recalled. “I was like, ‘Why is cancer care calling me?’” After undergoing a biopsy, Peters began treatment within weeks. He received six rounds of chemotherapy at Boundary Trails Health Centre, allowing him to avoid frequent trips to Winnipeg for treatment. Family support and giving back Peters said one of the biggest fears following his diagnosis was whether he would be around to watch his children grow up. “At the time, my youngest child was nearly five years old, while my oldest had just turned 12,” he said. He said doctors quickly reassured him that the chances of remission were high. While Peters said he did not need to heavily rely on South Central Cancer Resource services himself, he stressed how important the organization is for families navigating cancer diagnoses. “It was a big burden lifted knowing that they’re there for you and they have all these resources available that you can use,” he said. Peters added the experience changed his outlook on life and inspired him to give back to the community that supported him during treatment. “The community stepped up for me in such a big way,” he said. “This is kind of my way of giving back to help out.” Related stories: PCOS to PMOS: 1.4 million Canadians affected by potentially life-changing rebrand Legends Car Club Drive for Cancer Regional support continues to grow Now in its second year at the Meridian Exhibition Centre, Bergsma said the event continues to attract support from communities across southern Manitoba. “We have huge support from many areas in this region here,” she said. “We go very far and wide and we also give support financially to many people from many areas.” She added the fashion show has become a yearly tradition for many families, reflecting the widespread impact cancer has on communities. “I think it just shows how committed people are to supporting cancer patients and their families,” Bergsma said. “We all know that cancer touches every family, every person, every age.” Fundraiser remains key for SCCR The fashion show is one of SCCR’s largest annual fundraisers and helps support programs and services throughout the region. Bergsma said continued community support is essential as demand for services continues to grow. “We definitely rely on this for our organization and we definitely need people to keep coming,” she said. She also noted the increasing need for cancer support programs in the region. “It seems like there’s more and more people getting cancer all the time,” Bergsma said. “So, I think we need to keep this going for many years.” A date has already been selected for the 2027 SCCR Fashion Show -- May 13th, 2027. With files from Jayme Giesbrecht and Chris Sumner