A girl with a dream. Kaitlyn Marie Reimer was diagnosed with childhood cancer at age 13. She passed away a few short years later at the age of 15. In that time, she started a charity to give back to her community, called Katie Cares. Part of her dream to support the work of the organization was to hold a fashion show for moms and daughters to have a fun night together, like her and her mom, Ruth Reimer.
In October of 2012, at Emmanuel Church in Winkler 210 people gathered on a blustery night for the first Katie Cares Fashion Show.
This year and several venues later, the 10th Annual Katie Cares Celebration of Life took place in a brand-new location, the Meridian Exhibition Centre, allowing the largest sold-out crowd, yet, to attend.
Katie Cares Executive Director and Katie's Mom Ruth Reimer was totally blown away and remarked it was a night many people will remember.
"The food was fantastic, the music was great, the atmosphere in the building was electric, the models just had a fun time on the runway, and I think everyone celebrated life."
She described some of the special touches supporters enjoyed throughout the night.
"They were treated to the Bromantics band that came out of Moose Jaw, SK. Music that everybody knows and just wants to move around and do a little bit of dancing. We had some speeches, we had a live auction, which we've never done before. Morris (Olafson) literally knocked it out of the park for us. And then we had, of course, our food, the charcuterie board, which food was fabulous."
Forty-three prizes were donated to the Silent Auction and Reimer shared where many of the prizes came from.
"This year we had guests really step up, and they gave from their hearts, and told their families about Katie's Cottage. It didn't take long and all of a sudden, the prizes were just flowing in, and they wanted to say thank you because their loved one had stayed at Katie's Cottage, made a difference for them. It's just great our guests felt they had to help."
The cost of the night was completely paid for in full by business sponsorships, so all ticket, silent auction and drink sales went directly to the charity, raising approximately $80,000.
Reimer said Katie would have loved it.
"You know, she loved a good party. She really did. She loved to have parties with her friends and her backyard planning and always having some good food and being able to laugh and be together. She knew what this meant to the area, to the hospital. I know she knows this is going on, and I know she's thrilled. And that's what keeps me going."
Reimer said the money given to the charity will be used with integrity, transparency and honesty, always giving back to the local community here in the Pembina Valley.
Learn more about Katie Cares and find more pictures from the Fashion Show on the website.
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