With a powerful opening speech by emcee, Nicole Grehn, the evening started with storms of tears, as a story of rains reflected without rain we cannot grow, we cannot find our differences. “Different is normal and oh so powerful!” – Nicole
Show Your Shine is an adaptive runway event, full of inclusivity and differences, inspiration and positivity, giving confidence and celebrating lives in the limb difference community. It supports the Limb Kind Foundation which provides services both domestically and internationally to the limb difference community. This year the Limb Kind team is traveling to Kenya, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia and even added Zambia! During these visits they provide prosthesis for those that would likely never have the opportunity, more importantly they provide hope. They couldn’t do this without the love and support provided through events like Show Your Shine.
Show Your Shine raises funds for the Limb Kind Foundation while completely empowering the limb difference community right here at home, whether you are reading this in New York or California or Texas. The Limb Kind Foundation, through Show Your Shine, is here to bring you and even your differences the confidence and belief that we are ALL beautiful and deserve to be celebrated! In fact, the room celebrated this year’s models so loudly, it measured 108 decibels!
Jill Schulman-Smith, Youth Group Director, Special Events Coordinator, Assistant Trip Leader and Occupational Therapist shared how the dream of this event was born. While working with a limb different friend, Jill told her that she was glowing. When the little girl said she sees herself as ugly, it broke Jill. She wished the rest of the world could see her glowing. When Jill had the opportunity to change this vision for others, she took the leap. Supporting her brother Rob Schulman, Executive Director and Founder, Show Your Shine for Limb Kind was born. Rob, Jill and Nicole, with an amazing support team behind them pour so much love in to this event and the Limb Kind Foundation. The community is blessed with all the love they continue to spread to each individual.
The growth of this event is critical. It creates confidence and the ability for us all to truly see that each individual does shine. New models and alumni are not only celebrated as individuals, but they are building lasting friendships. It is so powerful hearing the words, “They are just like me.” They often have quite different stories, but it is through the similarity of differences that they find the strength in each other.
A key lesson in our house is that bravery comes from fear. As an alumni parent this year, I had a different view of the event. Watching the new models face their fears truly magnified what this event does. During the first rehearsal many models were shy, timid, nervous, fearful, our alumni families cheered them on trying to stand for the soon to be sold out event. By the time their moment came they were truly shining! The fear became bravery. The adaptive runway delivered inclusivity. The inclusivity delivered confidence. Within 48 hours we saw all ages go from shy and scared to walk up the ramp to truly embracing and celebrating in their moment. This is Show Your Shine!
The sense of inclusivity and community gained in an event like this is unparalleled, alumni model Ella Pirri, spoke to self-acceptance. She shares her limb differences with her father who has inspired her to see that acceptance does exist. She confidently spoke in front of more than 500 attendees, speaking to not just limb differences but the social battles of teenagers. And while standing up there alone and vulnerable, she later said, “I felt so much warmth and positivity from each and every person in that room…it almost felt like talking to a group of my loved ones.” – Ella Pirri
There is a stark difference between the adults that did not grow up having these opportunities and the youth that are being given these moments now. The adults are breaking down barriers of years of anxiety, some born with differences, some lost to accidents, some born with differences and never amputated until later in life. Sara Kallus-Svoboda’s daughter’s leg was amputated only five months ago as a result of battling cancer. She shared that the weekend was eye-opening and they learned so much. And through this weekend their son even opened his heart as he gave a speech about his little sister, Belle. “Overall, it was gratifying and inspiring on all levels.” – Sara
Katelyn Richter shared about her daughter Addison, “…she was able to wave her arms in the air with pride as she walked the runway you could tell that this experience would change the foundation of what her limb difference could mean to her.”
It is overwhelming to see the strength in the room. Matias Ferreira lost his legs while serving in Afghanistan, receiving a Purple Heart in the Marine Corps. Our veteran population in this country suffers daily. Matias is a shining example of perseverance as he now serves as a local police officer and spends time mentoring and empowering youth. When asked about Show Your Shine he said, “This weekend taught me and reminded me of the challenges we face on a day-to-day basis. While pausing to feel and see those differences; I also saw how beautiful it is to be surrounded by people who refuse to quit.”
Refuse to quit, it is truly an effort to refuse to quit. Imagine if every day you had to put your legs on. Imagine if every day you had to find the confidence just to wear short sleeves. Show Your Shine celebrates the difference. I hope reading this article and holding on to this message keeps the celebration going for tomorrow. These individuals refuse to quit and as humans, we too should refuse to quit. Be Kind, Limb Kind.
