Over 500 guests gathered in Winnipeg, Canada, to glimpse a sneak peek at Nygard International’s 2011 Spring and Summer collection on March 25.

Mingling over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, guests oohed and awed as models strutted the catwalk, adorned in the new collections from Peter Nygard, Biana Nygard, Tan Jay, ALIA and INVESTMENTS. But the true highlight of the night wasn’t the clothes; it was the modeling of hope and courage as 10 breast cancer survivors graced the runway, fostering an aura of strength and reiterating the company’s ongoing commitment to eradicating the disease.

The fashion show wasn’t the first time breast cancer has graced Nygard’s runway. Last year, Nygard held a special fall fashion premiere to debut gowns designed for women undergoing mammograms. Nygard International designed and donated 1,500 gowns worth $90,000 to CancerCare Manitoba. “We get many positive letters from women who have gone through the clinic and are thankful to use the gowns,” said Sharon Clarke, a Nygard spokeswoman.

Nygard’s commitment to finding a breast cancer cure stems from his mother, Hilkka Nygard, a breast cancer survivor who passed away just last year. Hilkka personified the hard work, determination and drive that became the cornerstones of Nygard’s success.

Over the years, Nygard has donated millions of dollars to the cause. In 2004, they announced the opening of two state-of-the-art Breast Cancer Research Units — the Nygard International Molecular Biology Breast Cancer Research Unit and the Breast Cancer Tumour Bank. From 2001-2008, Nygard was also a National Champion-level sponsor of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure and has created an endowment fund at CancerCare Manitoba to fund ongoing research.

“Breast cancer awareness and research continues to be top of mind for our associations, 12 months of the year,” said Nygard.