Patients take runway for IUDM

Eight-year-old Zoe Isaac-Allen stepped out from behind the blue curtain sporting an orange IUDM shirt.
The third grader has cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas, liver and intestine.
Isaac-Allen is a patient at Riley Hospital for Children, but Tuesday night, she was a model.
One by one, Isaac-Allen and other Riley Hospital patients walked down the Whittenberger Auditorium stage with their IU student escorts Tuesday night as part of the second annual Runway for Riley event.
The fashion show served as a Indiana University Dance Marathon fundraiser to benefit Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health in Indianapolis.
This event was the first release of IUDM apparel and the first glimpse of the Riley kids.
The show was attended by IU students and Riley family members.     
“It gives us an opportunity to include the Riley families,” said IUDM Director of Merchandising and Apparel Laura Swartz. “There’s something really special about having these kids who have been through so much and are such a inspiration to us on a daily basis running down these aisles wearing the new apparel.”    
Swartz said there are at least nine different child patients this year, as well as a patient sibling.
Students filled the auditorium while the Riley patients got ready to début the outfits from the “make-up” room.
Swartz said the event allowed students to learn more about the lives of the patients they support.
“We read their stories and we know a lot about who they are, but we never see anything past that. They don’t always get to interact with us, so it’s an opportunity for us to get to know them, and they love being a part of the show,” said Swartz.
Isaac-Allen is currently in third grade at Ellettsville Intermediate School, and she said her favorite hobbies are creating art and going to class.
“I’m nervous a little bit,” said Isaac-Allen, prior to the fashion show.
Isaac-Allen’s runway partner for the evening was senior Liz Wadas.  Senior Madeline DiSalvo walked the runway with Isaac-Allen’s younger sister, Frankie Isaac-Allen.
The siblings’ mother, Cheryl Isaac-Allen, sat in the front row during the fashion show.  
“They love being a part of this,” Cheryl Isaac-Allen said. “I mean, this is their wonderland, and the students are spectacular. We’re hoping to get them set on the right track. This kind of environment and meeting students ... makes them raise their values and standards.”
The Runway for Riley event served as a precursor to the IUDM’s main fundraiser, a 36-hour dance marathon on Nov. 15. Last year’s event raised more than $11,000.
Phi Mu fraternity provided additional volunteers for the event.
IUDM is the second largest organization in America and has risen over $14 million since its founding in 1991.
Swartz encouraged students to attend the dance marathon, whether they plan to dance or not.
Cheryl Isaac-Allen said she was grateful for the financial and emotional support IUDM has provided patients like her daughter.
“I hope Zoe will live long enough to go to college,” she said.

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