The Vicksburg City Auditorium will transform Thursday night into a runway — a runway for a special cause with special models.

In the Paint Paris Pink Benefit Fashion Show, the featured models will be those impacted by breast cancer, some will be survivors and others will be walking in memory of loved ones and friends.

Carolyn Butler, founder of Believers of Faith Cancer Organization, which sponsors the event, said the idea for the first fashion show in 2011 stemmed from when she was receiving treatment for cancer.

“I could see how patients that had gone through chemo and radiation like myself did not feel beautiful about themselves, so I began to think of ways that I could help others bring their self-esteem back up and feel beautiful again,” Butler said. “Once they hit that runway they feel beautiful about themselves even if they’re going through chemo or are a survivor and have scars.”

The proceeds from the event will go toward Believers of Faith, which originally benefited the American Cancer Society but over the last two years, has taken on a more “hands-on” approach, Butler said.

“We saw another need, a more severe need, in our community in other areas where cancer patients and their families were hurting and they needed immediate assistance and couldn’t wait on referrals and people to call them back,” she said. “They needed help right now.”

So instead of referring patients to the other agencies, Butler said Believers of Faith now provides a number of services directly to patients in Warren and surrounding counties, including providing gas cards to get to an appointment, providing transportation, providing someone to go to appointments with cancer patients or providing copays for doctors visits that a patient may not be able to provide.

Butler said due to community support, like support for the fashion show, the organization will be able to provide a sizeable donation to five cancer patients that a committee of the organization’s board members and members of the community selected.

“The proceeds from this event will continue to support cancer patients in their families,” she said. “At this event, we will be blessing a select number of cancer patients and/or survivors financially. We’ve identified several patients in Warren County and other communities that have a severe financial need because of their illness.”

Local businesses, including Belk, Dillard’s and Willingham’s, and businesses in other counties have provided clothing for the approximately 30 participants in Thursday’s show, she said.

“We invited as many cancer patients and survivors as we could,” she said, noting people are coming in from around Mississippi and outside of the state for the event.

“We have several people who come out in support in memory of those who have transitioned and in love of those currently going through it. It’s just a big event of love. We just get together and have a good time, a celebration. This is a happy event.”

Both silent and live auctions will take place when doors open for the event at 5:30 p.m. at the city auditorium, and the fashion show following about 45 minutes later, Butler said. Tickets will be available at the door for $30.

“We need the community to come out to support us so when the need is there, we can provide the services we currently do and then add to those services,” she said. “Our ultimate goal is to have a (cancer services) center in Vicksburg.”