Students from eight local high schools had a chance to summon their inner fashion model on Sunday and do it for a good cause.

More than 25 students took part in the 11th annual Junior Breast Cancer Alliance Fashion Show, strutting their stuff at Richards on Greenwich Avenue to fund programs designed to help underserved women who might otherwise not receive the services they need. The fashion show and silent auction were put together by the students and represented the culmination of months of effort.

Emma Church and Caroline Burch, both of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, have been involved for years with the Junior Breast Cancer Alliance and this is their second year participating as models.

"Spreading the word about this was probably the biggest challenge we faced," Church said. "We have the club in our school and people know how important this is. We just wanted to make sure people know about what the BCA does and who it helps. We do a lot of work in the year doing bake sales and having `civie days' where you can pay money and wear any clothes you want to school."

Burch added, "It's very hard. People have sports and other commitments and it's hard to get them free in their schedules for a Sunday morning but we've been working really hard and making announcements in school. It's really rewarding to see people turn out for this."

Alex Montinaro, of Brunswick School, has been a supporter for years before becoming a model for the day. The Breast Cancer Alliance has a chapter at Brunswick, as it does at other local schools, and he got involved after his fourth-grade teacher Jen Spaulding was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"It showed me how important something like this can be," Montinaro said. "I joined this in my freshman year and I became president of it in my junior year. It's so important that we do what we can to help. It's nice seeing our hard work pay off. We got a lot of people to come out and a lot of nice items for auction."

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Church said she was happy to see younger kids, who weren't models, coming out, too.

"It's important for them to get involved and to take on our roles when we graduate," Church said.

Richards wasn't just the host for the event. As longtime supporters of the BCA they donated the outfits. Hair and makeup were done by Becker Salon and food was courtesy of Rosie in New Canaan. The silent auction featured items as diverse as gift certificates for Yogasmoga and the Delamar Hotel Spa, tickets to a Pat Benatar concert, wine and tickets for the New York Mets and the New York Rangers.

The Junior BCA Committee is chaired by Paige Montinaro, Lynn Carnegie, Dee Mayberry and Mary Jeffery, but the work in putting the show together was done by the students.

"This is an opportunity for kids from different schools to actually work together," Montinaro said. "They're so used to competing on the sports fields or in debate or math team. But what's so wonderful about this organization is that it's an opportunity to work together and raise money for a common cause."

Carnegie added, "It's all about the personal connections that all of us, both the teenagers and the mothers on this, have to people who have had breast cancer. Whether it's a good or a bad outcome, so many of us have those connections and it gets you in the heart to see this commitment. So much community service work just involves paperwork but what's so nice about this is that it's about people and mothers and grandmothers and even dads. There is a strong personal connection even if it's a friend who has been impacted by this disease."

Carnegie said working with the BCA allows people to make a difference because the money raised goes to the programs affecting women's health in the community. By getting involved and doing a turn on the catwalk, she said they're able to do good at a young age. She cited the example of her own daughter who was once president of the Junior BCA and then continued the work when she went to college and set up a new organization.

"This is something they're doing year round," Mayberry said. "This is not a one-day event. They're always working to raise awareness for the Breast Cancer Alliance and to raise money at their schools."

Yonni Wattenmaker, the BCA's executive director, said she was pleased to see the continued commitment from Greenwich's youth.

"We are so fortunate to have high schoolers who devote their time throughout the year," Wattenmaker said. "It's incredibly empowering for them to do this. It's inspiring for us but for them they're learning at an early age that somebody can make a difference. Hopefully this sets them on a trajectory throughout their life to be giving back to the community."

Wattenmaker said the money raised would go to help underserved women throughout Connecticut and Westchester County. These are women who need breast health help but might not be able to get it due to a lack of health insurance or an inability to afford the co-pays for these potentially life-saving services.

Students participated not just from Brunswick and CSH but also Greenwich High School, Greenwich Academy, Greenwich Country Day School and Stanwich School. Additionally there was also participation from outside town, from New Canaan High School, King Low Heywood School in Stamford and Fox Lane High School in Bedford, N.Y.

"We're seeing more and more kids get involved every year and it's really great," Wattenmaker said. "We're growing and expanding and I think they really see the value in the time they put in to the organization."

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