DOBBINS HEIGHTS - Danielle Diggs, the Executive Director of FAR Community Services, along with a group of beautiful young ladies that are part of her special program, presented Fashion For A Cure Cancer Awareness on Friday evening, June 22, at the Dobbins Heights Community Center.
In an effort to help the young girls of Richmond County, Diggs organized FAR Community Services in 2012 as a non-profit. She has extensive training and experience in the fields of mental health and substance abuse counseling and a master’s degree in social work. The goal of her non-profit is to enable young girls to give back to the community, as well as to help them develop life skills and to learn to love themselves.
Diggs’ cousin and sister were an important part of her development during her teen years. However, her cousin Alyse died in 2002 in an automobile accident, and her sister Ellenette was murdered in 2006. To honor them, the acronym FAR stands for the middle names of Danielle (Felice), her cousin (Alyse) and her sister (Rochelle).
This end-of-the-year event was set up like a Paris runway, complete with twinkling lights, beautiful pink and white balloons and a cozy romantic table and chairs. Tyhronda Leak and Ken Spencer served as the MCs for the evening. Sponsors for the event included Faith Assembly Outreach Church, Hunter’s Chapel Church, Timbers Crossing FWB, Crawford Law Office, and Cleveland Dental Office.
Opening entertainment was provided by the well-known Delusional Divas of the Hamlet Senior Center, dressed in their colorful dresses and hats, who wowed the crowd with their dancing and hilarious moves with their walkers, taking time to dance with the children as the music of Shania Twain, Beyonce, The Beach Boys, and Roy Orbison played.
Serena Erwin then spoke to the group about cancer, and the importance of early detection. “Just because you have been diagnosed with cancer, doesn’t mean it’s the end.” There are so many different types of cancer, and it doesn’t just effect the patient, it effects the entire family. Erwin has lost an uncle, aunt, and cousin to cancer. However, she stated, it helps prepare you for the cycle of taking care of your loved ones and strengthening your family. She spoke about the ten most deadly types of cancer, including lung, colon, rectal, breast, and pancreatic. Erwin followed her talk with a beautiful emotional song, “Lord, Give Me You.”
Other singers that performed during the evening included Angel Latisha and Sumaiya Webster, and Kathy Webster shared her testimony and personal struggle with cancer.
The young ladies-and a few gentleman- presented a variety of fashions in three different scenes throughout the evening, ranging from evening wear to casual wear to beach wear, accompanied by loud music and accolades from the crowd. As they walked into the room in time to the music, it was obvious that these young people were enjoying themselves and had been preparing for this event for some time. The models were Melody Bruce, Nevaeh Goodwin, Dezmonae Allen, Precis Reid, Jaleah Leak, Nakosia Conwell, Ty Leak, Amiya Griffen, Ayana Griffin, Keron Starks, Janiya Sellers, Linda Spencer, Alexander Gladden, Ms. Joan, as well as Danielle Diggs.
As the evening drew to a close, Diggs thanked all of the people in attendance for their support to raise funds for cancer awareness. She presented gift cards to those who assisted her with organizing and setting up this fashion show for the young ladies who benefit from services through FAR Community Services.
