Overwhelming response to Bethell House fund-raiser

Outback and Company co-owners Lynda Clumpus and Fran Livingston show off one of the colourful pieces from their store's many collections.

Women looking for an afternoon out that promises fun and fashion in support of a worthwhile local cause will want to attend A Spring Affair fashion show.

The event is being held in support of Bethell House, an ambitious project of Hospice Caledon (www.hospicecaledon.ca) that will see a beautiful, 10- bed residential-style palliative care centre built in Inglewood.

Hospice Caledon has been providing thousands of clients and their families with compassionate end-oflife care and bereavement support for the past 15 years and Bethell House will enable them to provide even greater care to the community.

Thanks to the generous donation of Lorna Bethell, made in loving memory of her husband, Tony, and son, Jamie, in whose honour the facility is named, along with support from the Town of Caledon and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the project is well underway to becoming a reality.

But more help is needed and the afternoon of fun and fashion has been planned by community volunteers to help raise funds to support this worthwhile project.

Doreen Beffort chairs the fashion show committee and she described response to the event as being overwhelming.

"I'm so excited about it," she declared. "It has sort of taken on a life of it's own."

Beffort said as soon as the project was announced, she knew she wanted to do something to help. And in Outback and Company (www.outbackandcompany. com) she found a willing community partner.

Outback and Company have previously provided fashions for community fund-raising events in support of Research for Breast Cancer and the Headwaters Health Centre and guests at this kick-off fund-raising event will have a chance to see the season's hottest fashions from the locally owned and operated women's casual clothing store. Owned by Lynda Clumpus and Fran Livingston, the store is located at 18338 Hurontario St., in Caledon village, where the ladies have been serving their faithful customers for more than 20 years.

Specializing in comfortable styles in fabulous fabrics by many of today's popular brands, including French Dressing, Tribal, Woolrich, Neon Buddha and many more, the co-owners say their aim is to help customer's express their inner beauty through smart outfits they will love to wear.

While the event will certainly focus on fun and fashion, Beffort said the most important thing the event will do is to create more awareness for the wonderful work that the Bethell House will undertake in the Caledon community.

"After April 20, there are going to be 300 more people that will know (about it) and hopefully they will pass it on," she said.

A Spring Affair will be held April 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Caledon Country Club, 2121 Olde Base Line Rd. Refreshments will be provided and guests will be treated to musical talents of local jazz artist Marcia Barnes. Tickets are $30 and all proceeds will be directed to support Hospice Caledon's Bethell House.

For tickets or event information contact Beffort at (519) 927-3335.