My Birthday Wish: Help me Save Lives with Runway Moms For a Cause

I am so incredibly excited to celebrate another year of life, love, blessings and abundance. I treat my birthday like a national holiday because I don’t take for granted that God has blessed me to see another year. So when I thought about what my birthday wish would be this year, I immediately wanted to highlight a very special cause.

Last year for my birthday, I wrote 35 Expressions of Gratitude. And like most moms, I am grateful for my children every day. Most often times, we take for granted the simple things like being able to give birth with proper medical service and supplies. The threat of not surviving childbirth or labor when pregnant with my three kids just didn’t cross my mind. But unfortunately, that’s not the reality for many women in different countries around the world.

This is where Runway Moms For a Cause comes in. I’ve had the honor and pleasure of participating in this fashion event for goodwill for the last two years. Every year, Founder, Lara Akinsanya finds an organization to benefit that is dedicated to helping women and children. This amazing mom of two (twins) combined her love of fashion design and philanthropy to not only give back to those in need but to also celebrate motherhood. Getting to know Lara personally, I know for a fact she does this from the heart. To put on a show of this caliber and with such excellence is nothing short of amazing and no small feat.

Lara Akinsanye - Runway Moms For a Cause
Founder of Runway Moms, Lara Akinsanya in her original L-Shandi design.

You see, what makes this event even more unique is the fact that Lara handpicks the models to walk in the show every year — all are moms from various walks of life (various shapes, sizes, heights & cultures). This year, I had the pleasure of teaming up with Lara to create the Ultimate Mom’s Night Out event in conjunction with Runway Moms.

All proceeds from this year’s show will go to benefit Childbirth Survival International (CSI) a 501(c)(3) international nonprofit, whose mission is to make pregnancy, labor & delivery, and postpartum period safer for the mother and newborn, and optimize child survival for the first five years.

There are direct and indirect causes of maternal and newborn mortality; however, many of the direct causes such as pre-eclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage, are preventable and manageable with proven low-cost low-tech solutions to save lives.

Lack of basic medical supplies is a barrier for many pregnant women to deliver in a health facility in the presence of a skilled birth attendant, who also often work under stressful conditions of no supplies and medicines. With approval from the Government of Tanzania, part of CSI’s initiatives to help pregnant women and midwives in Tanzania is to provide sterile childbirth kits for FREE to the women.

I was completely blown away that these kits to help prevent infant and maternal mortality, are only $7 each. Most of us spend more on that on a daily latte or lunch.

I was equally excited to see CSI as the chosen beneficiary this year because the Co-Founder, Tausi Suedi attended the event last year just to support after seeing me post about it on social media.

RunWay Moms Tausi Childbirth Survival
Tausi and I at the 2015 Runway Moms for a Cause benefitting the Tigerlilly Foundation)

So my birthday wish this year is to raise at least $200 on behalf of my mother company, PurposeDrivenMedia.com to Runway Moms for a Cause (we will also be donating a percentage of all product and service sales received through the month of May). And even if you can’t donate a $7 kit, would you mind sharing this post and ask those around you to do the same?

Even better, we would love to have you join us that this year’s Runway Moms black-tie event being held on Friday, May 13th. Tickets are only $75 for general admission. Come watch an amazing show, and have a great time (and of course, there will be some surprises).

runway moms 2016 event info

How do you give back in ways that are meaningful to you?

You Might Also Like

8 Comments

  • Patrice M Foster
    April 20, 2016 at 1:59 PM

    Happy birthday. What a great way to celebrate your birth. Runaway mom for a cause fashion event. A Fundraising is a great way to give back which benefit others in need. Will share with friends.
    Patrice M Foster would like you to check out…Secrets Reveals about Teenage DepressionMy Profile

  • Bijee
    April 20, 2016 at 4:56 PM

    Happy Birthday!!! I think it is so dope that you are thinking of others as a way to celebrate your birthday! What a great cause, you are right about the thought not even crossing my mind of not making it through the delivery of my children. how much of a blessing is that! Thank you for being an awesome example of a great mom and woman!
    Bijee would like you to check out…Girl Just Quit! {#GrowBetterChallenge}My Profile

  • Stacie Branson
    April 20, 2016 at 5:38 PM

    Happy Birthday! I love a good fashion show and love supporting when there’s a worthy cause.
    Stacie Branson would like you to check out…NYX Mall of America Grand Opening – A Recap of the MadnessMy Profile

  • Joanna
    April 21, 2016 at 10:08 AM

    Aren’t April babies the best? lol Happy Birthday. This sounds like an awesome cause. I love a nice fashion show.
    Joanna would like you to check out…How I Spent 3 Days in BarbadosMy Profile

  • Onica (MommyFactor
    April 21, 2016 at 3:26 PM

    What a great way to celebrate your birthday. I like that she hand picks real life moms to be models in the show.
    Onica (MommyFactor would like you to check out…Review: Oregon Scientific Smart Anatomy: educational & fun way kids learn the human bodyMy Profile

  • Mimi Green
    April 21, 2016 at 9:44 PM

    Happy Birthday to one of my favorites for sure. I’m honored to be a part of Runway Moms for a Cause. I love that Lara supports causes that we don’t usually hear about. She is giving a voice to the voiceless. As a human, as a woman, as a mom how could I not support this movement.
    Mimi Green would like you to check out…PRSVR RespectDC Grand Opening {Event Recap}My Profile

  • Jamila
    April 22, 2016 at 2:10 AM

    I love the idea of this show, and it’s got a great cause. Ps happy Birthday.
    Jamila would like you to check out…10 Ways To Spend Mother’s Day With Your MomMy Profile

  • Holly
    April 24, 2016 at 11:46 AM

    Happy Birthday. Such a great cause and way to celebrate. Your always doing something amazing.
    Holly would like you to check out…Leopold’s Ice Cream in Savannah, GeorgiaMy Profile

  • Leave a Reply to Jamila Cancel Reply