It’s the Fashion to Love Your Kidneys

It’s the Fashion to Love Your Kidneys: A Kidney Transplant Recipient to Sponsor MIKE Program Fashion Show

It's the Fashion: to Love Your Kidneys, A fashion show and wine raffle to benefit MIKE Program featuring guest emcees Byron Beck and Ayanna Berkshire of Twilight and Extraordinary Measures

Portland, OR, February 24, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Judy Romano is opening more than California Closets to MIKE Program for the first annual fashion show on March 13. The show is inspiring Romano to open up about her personal experience with kidney disease. MIKE Program, the name for Multicultural Integrated Kidney Education Program, works to raise awareness and funding for youth-based healthy lifestyles in the Portland area.

When Romano, who owns and operates California Closets, first learned that she would need a kidney transplant, she confided only with her close friends and family. Romano is one of 600,000 Americans who suffer from polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The hereditary disease causes kidney failure in about half those diagnosed with PKD. Once the disease progresses, Romano and others have only two options, seek dialysis or a transplant.

Romano’s brothers offered to donate a kidney, but they were not a match. Then a close friend offered hers. “I couldn’t imagine asking anyone to give me a body part,” said Romano. “But my friend, Ruthann Marquis, told me that you need something, and I have it. She is so amazing.” Romano had a kidney transplant on September 28, 2009 and named her new kidney, Gracie.

Romano was a patient of Dr. Michael Hartnett, before his death in 2000. His wife, Dr. Cheryl Neal, founded MIKE Program in memory of her husband’s vast contribution to kidney care in Oregon. One of Hartnett’s early colleagues, Dr. William Bennett, is the Medical Director of Legacy Transplant Services where Romano received her transplant. He serves on MIKE Program’s Advisory Board.

“MIKE Program is all about taking care of your kidneys,” said Romano. “I have the good fortune to now see what life is like with good, healthy kidneys.” Since her transplant and initial recovery stage, Romano’s energy level has greatly increased. She’ll need it for the dynamic fashion show set to feature some of Portland’s best designers.

Betty Jean Couture, Bon Lou Couture and Christa Taylor, as well as O’Pearl Jewelry and The Real McCoy® Purses will showcase their latest creations at the show. Local celebrities Byron Beck and Ayanna Berkshire of Twilight and Extraordinary Measures will co-emcee the evening event, featuring Fox 12’s Sophie Soong as a celebrity model. Local teens who are involved with MIKE Program will be participating in many of the aspects of the fashion show. Some are busy designing t-shirts with healthy messages, while others are looking to model the couture fashions of the designers.

MIKE Program designed the fashion show to raise awareness and funding to educate disenfranchised youth about healthy lifestyles to counter kidney disease. It is one trend MIKE Program hopes will lessen the chances of kidney disease in youth. Romano is happy to offer her business as the venue for the show. “Where else are you going to put all those clothes?” she said.

What: It’s the Fashion! to Love your Kidneys; A Fashion Show Benefit for MIKE Program
Where: California Closets Showroom, 1225 SE Grand Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97214
When: Saturday, March 13, 2010 (in recognition of National Kidney Month and World Kidney Day)
Time: Doors open at 5:00pm. Show runs from 6:00-8:00pm.
Cost: $30 per person. (Price includes admission, script for wine and hearty appetizers.) A wine raffle will also be available. Order tickets on-line at mikeprogram.org or by calling 503 296-7705.
Why: Because everyone deserves to look good and you can’t look your best unless you feel your best.

MIKE Program Description: Multicultural Integrated Kidney Education Program (MIKE Program) works locally to enrich the lives of teens and empower them to be ambassadors of health. Our purpose is to decrease the number of people whose kidneys fail because of obesity, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, risky behaviors, and negative social situations. The youth we serve often face socio-economic challenges or have family histories that may lead to increased risk of kidney failure. We recruit and train caring adults, often from the ranks of health professional students, to be health mentors. Paired with teachers or youth workers, the mentors team with groups of young people to guide progress through MIKE Program’s comprehensive adolescent health programming. Over a period of months, meeting weekly, mentors build trust relationships with youth and help build life skills known to lead to academic and career success. Working in a cooperative environment, the youth develop a service project to help their peers, families, and communities adopt healthier behaviors. An example of the youth projects can be found at 703 NE Hancock, Portland, in a colorful and inspirational 2000 sq. ft. mural showing people of various heritages pursuing activities that lead to health, harmony, and hope.

MIKE Program is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization (EIN 45-0520604)

Contact:
Dr. Cheryl Neal
MIKE Program
9155 SW Barnes Road, Suite 221, Portland, Oregon 97225
Phone: 503-296-7705
Email: cheryl@mikeprogram.org
Website: mikeprogram.org