Fundraising event organised by the combined effort of two independent boutiques based in the Bruntsfield area.
The popular independent shops in the Edinburgh Bruntsfield area: C’est si Bon and Ooh! Ruby shoes got together to raise money for the Sick Kids Hospital.
The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh was the first children’s hospital in Scotland.
Every year over 100,000 children pass through the doors of this hospital, ranging in age from just a few hours old to aged 16, in some specialities. The majority of the patients come from Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife, but it treats children from all over Scotland.
Maria Bauermeister, co-owner of Ooh! Ruby Shoes, reserves a special place in her heart for the Sick Kids Hospital, where her four-year-old daughter has been treated for many years. So together with her business partner Theresa O’ Hara and Sarah Gilchrist, owner of the ladies clothing boutique, she decided to organise a Fashion Show as a way to raise money to help and thank the Hospital and the people that work in it for their amazing job.
The event took place on Thursday 28th of May at the Links Hotel. Six ladies, regular customers and “Bruntsfield shoppers”, walked the runaway twice, first at 1 pm and then again at 6pm. Wearing the beautiful and sophisticated clothes and accessories from C’est si Bon and the variety of Italian, Spanish, American and Scandinavian unique shoes stocked in Ooh! Ruby Shoes.
Before the show began, the hotel offered the audience Canapés and Prosecco at arrival. It was followed by packed goody bags containing vouchers, discounts and little snacks. Members of staff sold raffle tickets to keep filling the charity basket for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.
The show turned out to be a real success. Thanks to the generosity of the people who decided to get involved and donate. In fact, at the end of only the first of the two shows planned for the day, £500 had already been raised.
The positive outcome of this event is also due to the commitment and effort of most of the independent shops, Hairdressers, Nail salons, and a few restaurants based in Bruntsfield – many of which offered many prizes for the raffle.
This event is only the beginning of a range of events to promote the motive. Maria Bauermeister promised that the 26th of September 2015 she will parachute in order to support this cause, which is to help aid an important organisation as the Sick Kids Hospital.
Submitted by Fabiana Cacace
