POS0064-PARE FASHION SHOW FOR A CAUSE: RAISING AWARENESS FOR JIA
Authors: S. Makri
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> After the sttiking of the Covid19 pandemic, our organisation struggled to find funds due to the fact that during the pandemic we could not do any events to raise money. CyLPER every year seeks to organise a big event to inform and educate its members and the public about its activities: In 2022 and 2023 we organised two fashion shows: One on May 2022, which we organised alone, and one in June 2023 which was a co-organised charity event. <h3>Objectives:</h3> When the restrictions about Covid19, end of 2021, were lifted the events' team got together to decide on the activity that would help the Organisation to raise funds and awareness. That is how the idea of a fashion show was "born" and in 2022 we campaigned it with the JIA awareness. For 2023 we were invited to participate at a fashion show for a good cause. This fashion show was organised from modelling and events company, and the income was split between two NGOs. June's 2023 charity fashion show was organised by the Municipal Youth Council of Engomi Municipality and was under the High Patronage of the First Lady, Andri Anastasiades, and CyLPER was a co-organiser. At this event 8 Cypriot designers joined forces for the charity fashion show "Eight with A Purpose (Cause) which was held with great success at the open amphitheatre of the University of Nicosia. <h3>Methods:</h3> <b>2022</b>: The events' team of CYLPER with the always needed help of volunteers organiaed the event from A to Z with a collaboration of NEW CODE modelling. The aim was to invite as many people as we could in order to raise awareness for JIA and a good amount of money considering that the two previous years had no events, so we had a shortage of funds. <b>2023</b>: This year's case was different because we were invited to attend and support a bigger Fashion Show event, so we had no obligations or expenses on putting effort to organize a huge event. The Fashion Show was professional with famous models of Cyprus and Famous Fashion Designers. <h3>Results:</h3> Both shows were extraordinary and had huge success. For the May's 2022 Charity Fashion show we had more than 300 guests and the event took place at a small events' place. The aim of our show was to raise awareness for JIA. Approximately 40 models participated, children and adults. For the first show we got so much support by the audience. Through the fashion show we invited the community of the association to a different and renewed event. The children opened the parade with t-shirts with the words "solidarity, hope, love, respect, mutual respect and acceptance". Then followed the normal fashion show where we also had a small dance by children. In 2022's fashion show we raised approximately 5000 euros, and we sold 320 tickets. 2023's fashion show accommodated more than 1000 visitors and the First Lady of Cyprus was also there. More than 60 models participated to the events aged from 6 years old and above. The awareness that we had regarding JIA in both events was on the top of the raising funds. The 2023 Fashion Show "8 with a cause" gave the opportunity to CyLPER to be exposed, on TV shows, Fashion Magazines, Social Medias, influencers and to bigger sponsors. Also, in this year's event we raised 5000 euros. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> Since these events are deeply embraced by the audience and our members; we are aiming to organise another fashion show in 2024. It is very important to underline and emphasise to the fact that RMDs do not affect old people but also the young population as well as children and can appear at all stages of one's life. JIA tends to be frequent so we should inform the public of its existence and let the children that are patients with JIA are not alone and they have all of our support. All the profits from the fashion shows were used to support CyLPER's programmes and further activities held to help people with RMDs. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>