Next week, the Roger Stark Cardiac & Stroke Auxiliary Team at Overlake Medical Center will host the fifth annual “Fashions from the Heart” fashion show.

A popular event for Eastside residents and supporters of Overlake, the fashion show and luncheon will be held at Hyatt Regency Bellevue. This year’s event, which raises funds for the heart and vascular services at Overlake, will feature keynote speaker is Dr. Jeffrey Fowler, who works as a Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist at Overlake.

Phyllis Stark, President of Overlake Medical Center Auxiliaries, said the auxiliaries have a tradition of hosting fashion shows to raise money for different causes at the center.

“It’s a good opportunity to get a group of women together,” Stark said.

The cardiac auxiliary, which was started by two women who received open heart surgery at Overlake, was named after Stark’s husband.

Traditionally, the event raises $20,000 for the center annually; Stark hopes to achieve this again in 2013.

A unique fact about the “Fashions from the Heart” show is that the show features real women, not professional models. Also unique to this event is the fact that several of the models are survivors of cardiac events; among them are a mother and daughter, both of whom have experienced serious heart arrhythmias.

Nancy Magill was diagnosed with Sick Sinus Syndrome in her 20’s and received her first dual chamber pacemaker at 28 years of age. Her daughter, Desiree Hobson, also experienced problems in her teens. She was ultimately diagnosed with Neurocardiogenic Syncope, and received a pacemaker at 20 years old.

An Oncology Social Worker at Overlake, Hobson heard about the fashion show after being asked by Stark to speak at an auxiliary meeting earlier this year. She decided to take part in the show to raise awareness about the fact that heart problems can occur in people of all ages.

Other models being featured in the show are friends and family of auxiliary members, who have been touched by cardiac disease in some way.

In previous years, the show has featured fashions from high-end retailers Papillon and Tempo, both based in Bellevue. However, the auxiliary decided to go in a new direction this year, in order to provide more affordable and accessible looks. Fashions in this year’s show have been pulled from Chico’s Bellevue store.

While the fashion show is generally held in February – during heart health month – the show was moved to May in order to better accommodate planning for this year’s Bandage Ball.

Tickets for the “Fashions from the Heart” show and luncheon begin at $65. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. May 23 at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue Way NE. For more information about the event go HERE.