The Most Powerful Show at Fashion Week Wasn’t All About Fashion
New York, NY – September 14th, 2025
The MBCure Research Consortium was the proud beneficiary of Cancer Culture’s 6th annual New York Fashion Week fundraising event.
BODY OF RESISTANCE, Cancer Culture X Ana Ono X MBCure, was a patient-led runway experience featuring models living with metastatic breast cancer, early stage disease, and “previvors” walking the runway in solidarity, wearing lingerie-inspired looks, bearing scars, flat chests, port lines, strength, joy and unflinching honesty.
Visit our Gallery for more photos from the show!
Set to an incredible soundtrack by DJ Misbehaviour, the moving, powerful runway garnered cheers, cries and a standing ovation. Cancer Culture’s Beth Fairchild and Rachel Burns gave powerful speeches. There was a short film tribute to women who have passed away from metastatic breast cancer and a homage to Cancer Culture’s founder, Champagne Joy.
“The Stage IV community deserves far more recognition and support. We are proud to share that Cancer Culture raised one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in donations with this event to fuel research and help save the lives of those living with metastatic breast cancer.” said Cancer Culture co-founder and MBC survivor Rachel Burns.
Along with founding partner AnaOno, brand sponsors included hair and wigs by Manic Panic, Italian crafted footwear by Fiorentini+Baker, handmade Ukrainian leather accessories by Brunetka Harness and jewelry by L George Designs. The show was styled by Erica Deligne, breast cancer survivor and flat advocate. Model travel grants provided by Wing 2 Wing Foundation.
Breast cancer affects Americans across all political affiliations. In 2025, approximately 317,000 women in the U.S. and 2.3 million worldwide will be diagnosed. Tragically, an estimated 42,170 women in the U.S. and 670,000 globally will die of the disease this year.
Money raised thus far is estimated at over $150K, which will go directly to MBCure’s Research Consortium made up of three of the world’s leading cancer institutions.
Read more about the show here:
Featured in People Magazine: Mom of 3 Was Told Exhaustion and Headaches Were ‘Just Motherhood.’ At 28, She Was Diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer
Featured in the New York Post: Breast cancer survivors take NYFW runway by storm in ‘act of resistance’
Body of Resistance: Cancer Culture Turns Fashion Week into a Protest for Survival.
Nicole Clifford on Founding MBCure and Transforming Metastatic Breast Cancer Research:
August 12, 2025
https://oncodaily.com/dialogues/mbcure-343920
Top Cancer Centers Form Research Consortium:
July 29, 2025
https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/top-cancer-centers-form-research-consortium
