"a freewheeling, shoe worshipping, downtown New York City cartoonist -- who was too busy to get mammograms or re-up for her health insurance -- had a charmed life cartooning for The New Yorker, the New York Times, and Glamour magazine, with a lipstick collection that would have made Jerry Hall envious... And to top that off, at 43, she got engaged to Silvano Marchetto, the sexy owner of Da Silvano restaurant. It would have been perfect, except one other thing happened--she got cancer. Her hilarious, sometimes in-your-face graphic novel, Cancer Vixen, tells how she kicked this killer with the help of some hard won wisdom and a pack of great friends."
- Marissa Acocella Marchetto, as described by the Huffington Post
The Larry and Lori Lickstein Foundation welcomed Marissa Marchetto as the host of the second annual Steps to the Cure. The event was held October 10, 2009 at the Baltimore Country Club and benefited the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an independent non-profit organization whose mission is to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer by providing critical funding for innovative research at leading medical centers worldwide, and increasing public awareness about good breast health. They have provided over $13 million dollars funding local research efforts.
The highlight of the evening was a Bryant Park styled runway show, showcasing a select group of breast cancer survivors strutting the catwalk. The show featured original designs from Carmen Mark Valvo whose chic and elegant eveningwear has been embraced by celebrities from Beyonce and Mary J. Blige, to Kate Winslet, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Eva Longoria. The work of Maryland-native and Project Runway winner Christian Siriano was also featured, showing off his romantic, edgy vision, coveted by Heidi Klum and Victoria Beckham. They will share the spotlight with designers from reknowned Maryland Institute College of Art, providing the opportunity to discover local talent, before they show in New York, Milan, and Paris. Dining, Dancing, and a silent auction made the evening complete. Our goal is to raise funds for a very deserving organization, but we also hope to elicit a visceral response from patrons, all in support of the cause.
