Megan Noack felt like she was walking on air as she made her way down the runway at the recent 2009 Luly Yang Couture Show entitled: 20/20.

Fashion show patrons raised an astounding $100,000 to benefit Camp Korey, a Carnation facility to help children who have serious illnesses.

Megan, a Camp Korey client, was born with a vascular malformation birth defect on the left side of her face resulting in more than 12 operations over the years and removal of her left eye. She hopes to soon get a prosthetic eye.

Along with four others, Megan was selected as a Camp Korey client to model a custom-made dress created by Luly Yang. Inspired by the beautiful wedding gowns she saw in Luly Yang’s boutique, Megan wore a white silk chiffon beaded and sequin dress. She walked the runway to the applause of a packed room.

“I felt like a princess up there,” she said, wearing a dazzling smile that matched her dress.

The theme for Luly Yang’s Couture Show was inspired by a visit Yang took to the Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake City where her brother works as a research ophthalmologist. Through his work, her brother researches artificial vision – the art and science of creating sight.

“In a wink, I was inspired to base a couture show on vision,” wrote Yang about the 20/20 couture show. “Along the journey of designing this collection, I have learned that perfect vision…comes from the heart.”

The evening fashion show transformed the Fremont Studios in Seattle into an elegant backdrop for passion, imagination, and vision – the concept behind this year’s show. The evening included a presentation about Camp Korey, a Client Fashion Show, a Camp Korey Kids Fashion Show and the 20/20 Couture Fashion Show.

For 20/20, Yang created a 72 piece collection that embraced modern, elegant, and feminine pieces of opulent and luxurious textiles of European and Asian silks and satins. Her gowns ascended the scope of hues from rich reds, to soft golds, and explored the optical illusion of black and white mosaics.

The night was dedicated to the talents of Luly Yang and the legacy of Paul Newman, founder of the “Hole in the Wall Gang” camps. Newman founded the camps in 1988 to create a place where children with medical conditions could have fun and just be kids. Today, children with serious illnesses travel from all 50 states and 32 countries to attend a Hole in the Wall Camp, free of charge.

This past summer, Tim Rose, Senior Vice President, Merchandising – Foods & Sundries, was inspired by the passing of his son to cancer to open a local Hole in the Wall Camp. Located on 818 acres of farmland in Carnation, Camp Korey serves children seven to 16 years old, living with serious and life-altering conditions including juvenile arthritis, cancer, epilepsy, sickle cell anemia and numerous other conditions. The camp is a medically supported facility that offers fun and educational programs for more than 20,000 Pacific Northwest children and their families.

The farm-themed camp offers 10 week-long intensive camps during the summer months with activities such as horseback riding, a climbing wall, arts and crafts, cooking, swimming and more. The kids also are exposed to hands-on aspects of farming, agriculture, animals and fishing. Additional programs run year-round.

Camp Korey is working toward full membership as a Hole in the Wall Camp. Saddened by Newman’s passing, Rose said, “Paul provided seed money to help Camp Korey to get started in 2005. We would not have been able to get off the ground without his support. I will always be grateful to Paul for his compassion and friendship.”

While planning for her fashion show this year, Yang decided to raise support for Camp Korey through awareness and funds. Luly Yang Souvenir Sunglasses were available for sale with all proceeds benefiting Camp Korey and 20 percent of the evening’s Couture Collection ordered as well as 20 percent of the night’s Luly Yang Boutique and gift card sales benefited the camp.

A “Raise the Paddle” fundraising opportunity welcomed guests to give back to Camp Korey and provide children in the area with the chance to attend camp and experience the outdoors, away from the hospital beds. Camp volunteer Connor Burshears, 11, started his own fundraising adventure for the camp, hoping to raise enough money to purchase golf carts and other forms of transportation for the clients and staff at Camp Korey. Prior to the fashion show, Connor asked for $50 donations to go towards “Conner’s Cabs.”

The donations will allow kids the opportunity to attend Camp Korey for free and experience a week that will be life changing.

For more information on Camp Korey visit www.campkorey.org.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at llarin@bellevuereporter.com or at 425-453-4602.