By Sasha Kardos-Machado – Contributor

Lights, camera, action! We are now less than three weeks out from the 17th annual Bishop’s University Charity Fashion Show (BUCFS), happening in Centennial Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 15! The BUCFS is the largest student-run fundraiser and a long-standing tradition on our campus. 

Our most successful show, last year, raised a record-breaking amount of $28,000 for the Dixville Foundation. We host a community show in the afternoon for family, friends and community members and then host a student show at night, followed by an afterparty at the Gait. 

Throughout the shows, incredible MCs do skits, introduce the brands and sponsors, give away prizes and bring audience members to compete in competitions. It’s an energetic, fun-filled show featuring dancing, modeling and a showcase of local and external brands! The BUCFS communications team works tirelessly throughout both semesters to secure partnerships with 15-20 clothing companies, who generously lend their pieces for the weekend of the show. 

With this year’s performance being centred around the theme Inspire, the aim is to encourage our BU community to step out of their comfort zone, embrace their potential and do something that scares them. Inspire also means being a part of something greater than ourselves and supporting a cause that makes a positive impact in our community. Through this theme, the hope is to motivate the entire Bishop’s community to get involved and raise money for charity in fun and non-conventional ways.

All proceeds from this year’s fundraising and shows will be going to Lennoxville and District Community Aid. This organization helps seniors 65+, those with a geriatric profile and convalescents to continue living at home. 

This year, volunteer hours have been introduced for the models and committee members who have worked directly with Lennoxville and District Community Aid to help with their initiatives. The BUCFS team has been helping out with meals on wheels every week since October, as well as helping out with other needs at the charity. 

All of the models, dancers, and committee members on the BUCFS team have been working incredibly hard since September to bring this show to life. The full team was hired and auditions were hosted in September, and from there began weekly practices in November. Through various fundraisers such as the Rubber Ducky Golf Tournament, the Charity Auction, 50/50 raffles and our Thrift Store, money was raised for charity. However, ticket sales and donations make up a huge part of our total raised amount. 

We cannot wait to show the Bishop’s community what we have been working on, and we hope you’ll buy a ticket to the show and come show your support! 

Sasha Kardos-Machado is a head coordinator for the BUCFS