On Sunday Nov. 10. each student at the Anatomy Fashion Show wore body paint to illustrate the different systems of the body. All proceeds raised went toward the Children’s Miracle Network and the Golisano Children’s Hospital (Xavier Delcid / photo editor).
On Sunday Nov. 10, Phi Delta Epsilon, Geneseo’s pre-medical fraternity, presented their annual Anatomy Fashion Show in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom. Organized by Vice Presidents of Programming sophomores Hima Chakka and Matthew Shin, the event raises money for Children’s Miracle Network and the local Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester.
The fashion show showcases systems of the body: the reproductive system, immune system, muscular system, respiratory system, skeletal system, urinary system, digestive system, nervous system, endocrine system and circulatory system. Representations of these are painted on students who volunteer to walk in the show.
Shin voiced his appreciation of the many students from different organizations and groups on campus who come together to participate and raise money for the cause.
“It’s great that so many organizations come out and volunteer. It’s for such a great cause, and we appreciate that so many students are willing to give their time and participate.”
Before the fashion show began, Karl Helfner spoke about his experiences with his daughter, Iris, who has Ebstein’s Anomaly—a rare congenital heart disorder. When Iris was five years old, she suffered a cardiac arrest and endured a cardiac massage that went on for 90 minutes.
“To give you an idea and to put that into context, if it was me, ten to 15 minutes tops, then they’d say, ‘not worth it.’ A kid, ‘thirty minutes, sure.’ Ninety minutes is unheard of,” Helfner said. “It’s probably the only time you will ever hear about it ever happening. I, of course, did not know that, but it was just another one of those trends that my daughter is out of the ordinary.”
Given the length of the cardiac massage, doctors were not sure how her brain would be impacted and were worried she would lose cognitive functioning. However, when Iris finally awoke, she was able to communicate with Karl. Everyone was relieved to know she had somehow made it through okay.
This, however, was not the end of Iris’s difficulties. Helfner explained how after the cardiac massage, Iris had two strokes, a perforated heart, a collapsed lung and was leaking out of her sutures.
“Literally anything that could go wrong did go wrong. It was just one nightmare day after day. You beg and pray for boredom. Just give me a boring day. Just one—I’ll settle for half a day. And this went on for weeks. But eventually, she managed to fight her way through each and every setback.”
As a result of his family’s struggles, Helfner has dedicated much of his life to raising money for children’s hospitals. He has raised more than six million dollars.
“We all have something within us to allow us to be able to help in some way. Fundraising starts with volunteers. Volunteers and their hard work, like tonight, painting on all of the models—that little bit of volunteering is going to go to help save some kid’s life. I know it seems simple, but it will, because every dollar that goes here is going to go to a child.”
All the money raised at the event will go to Children’s Miracle Network, which then goes directly to Golisano Children’s Hospital, which Helfner deems responsible for his daughter’s miraculous survival.
“If it were not for Golisano I would not be here tonight, and my daughter would definitely not be here either. We are very lucky that the world’s best pediatric heart surgeon actually is in Rochester.”
The event raises money through ticket sales, donations and a silent auction. Biology major sophomore Hailey Niles, who walked in the show, acknowledged her appreciation for the efforts of the Geneseo community to contribute to the event and raise money for the great cause.
“For the silent auction, it’s all baskets that places on Main Street made and donated towards this. It was so awesome to see how many people donated and were willing to give gift cards.”
The event typically raises thousands of dollars and showcases the creativity, dedication and generosity of the Geneseo community. Communication major sophomore Katherine Rodgers, who painted for the show, expressed a view shared by many of the volunteers who were excited to invest their time in a philanthropic mission.
“It feels good to spend my Sunday night doing something for Geneseo.”