Breast Cancer Alliance plans 30th anniversary luncheon with Carolina Herrera runway show

Breast Cancer Alliance will mark 30 years with a fundraising luncheon and fashion show on Oct. 22 at Million Air in White Plains, N.Y., featuring Carolina Herrera’s Spring 27 collection and survivor models. The event will honor Olivia Munn, Jill Martin, Sarrah Strimel Bentley and the Mitchell Family while supporting screenings, research and survivor programs.

Why it matters: - Breast Cancer Alliance’s 30th Anniversary Luncheon and Fashion Show is the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. - The event generates most of BCA’s annual funding for research grants, breast surgical oncology fellowships, education and screenings for uninsured and underinsured patients. - The program also spotlights breast cancer survivors and caregivers through BCA’s Models of Inspiration runway walk.

What happened: - Breast Cancer Alliance will host its 30th Anniversary Luncheon and Fashion Show on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - The event will take place at Million Air, 136 Tower Road, Hangar M, Westchester County Airport, White Plains, N.Y. - Wes Gordon, creative director of Carolina Herrera, will present the house’s Spring 27 runway collection. - The collection will appear for the first time at a BCA event after debuting at New York Fashion Week on Sept. 14, 2026. - The audience is expected to include nearly 800 supporters from Fairfield and Westchester counties and New York City. - Richards, a longtime BCA supporter, is making the Carolina Herrera presentation possible.

The details: - BCA will honor Olivia Munn, Jill Martin, Sarrah Strimel Bentley and the Mitchell Family. - Olivia Munn was diagnosed in 2023 with Stage 1 bilateral, multifocal, multiquadrant Luminal B breast cancer after a lifetime risk assessment led to further screening. - Munn has urged women nationwide to learn their risk score. - Jill Martin learned she carried a BRCA2 mutation in 2023 and was later diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. - Martin has become a vocal advocate for genetic testing. - Sarrah Strimel Bentley, a veteran of seven Broadway shows, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at age 38 in 2020. - Bentley now speaks about treatment, recovery and building a family. - The Mitchell Family, the Greenwich and Westport-based retailing family behind Mitchells and Richards, has supported BCA’s Luncheon and Fashion Shows for 18 years. - The family’s involvement includes board service and work on the luncheon auction stage. - After the luncheon, Richards will host a Carolina Herrera trunk show. - A portion of trunk show sales will be donated to BCA. - The afternoon will include a luncheon, live and silent auctions, the Carolina Herrera presentation and the Models of Inspiration runway walk. - Table reservations, individual tickets, sponsorships and underwriting opportunities are available at the luncheon page. - Credentialed press must RSVP to michelle@breastcanceralliance.org by Oct. 1, 2026. - BCA was founded in 1996 to improve survival rates and quality of life for people affected by breast cancer. - Since its founding, BCA has awarded $40 million in grants to researchers, surgeons and top medical institutions across the country.

Between the lines: - The move to Million Air turns a private aviation hangar into a runway venue, giving the anniversary event a more dramatic setting than a traditional ballroom. - The emphasis on risk assessment, genetic testing and early screening reflects BCA’s focus on catching breast cancer earlier and improving treatment outcomes. - The survivor walk and caregiver recognition frame the fashion show as both a fundraiser and a public statement about survivorship.

What’s next: - BCA will use the Oct. 22 event to raise funds for next year’s grants, fellowships, education programs and screening support. - Richards’ trunk show will continue the fundraising push after the luncheon. - BCA expects the anniversary celebration to reinforce its broader mission as it works toward a cure.

The bottom line: - BCA is turning a milestone anniversary into a high-visibility fundraiser that pairs fashion, philanthropy and breast cancer advocacy.