Mothers step up to help plan fundraiser for girl with leukemia

Fashion show that was supposed to raise money to help Laekyn was canceled

HOUSTON – Two mothers are stepping up after seeing a story Channel 2 Investigates exposed earlier this year about an event planner accused of taking money from parents for a fashion show fundraiser that never happened.

Laekyn Etheridge, who is about to turn 3 years old, is suffering from leukemia.

To add insult to injury, a fashion show that was supposed to raise money to help Laekyn was canceled.

The event planner, Quianna Carpenter, called police on KPRC 2 when showing up to ask her what happened to the money she'd collected from parents who paid to have their children participate.

KPRC's story caught the attention of the two Houston moms.

Basically I just thought, I can't let her walk away thinking that the modeling community in Houston is not friendly and helpful," Micah Allen said.

Allen and Amy Votaw are longtime friends because their two daughters model together.

"She called me and asked me, 'Do you want to do this?' and I said, 'Let's do this. Let's get this going,'" Votaw said.

They're having a re-do on the fashion show for Laekyn, but this time around, the money raised is expected to go to Laekyn and her mother.

The Firehouse Saloon agreed to donate space and staffing.

"We always bend over backwards to anybody in need," said Tom Imbe, owner of Firehouse Saloon.

Imber is building a runway for the kids to walk.

"If you've never walked the runway come out and walk the runway, see how you like it," Imber said.

After donations for participation, barbecue plates and T-shirt sales, the mothers hope to raise a least a few thousand dollars for another mother in need.

The fashion show benefit for Laekyn will take place next Sunday from 1-3 p.m.


About the Author:

Award winning investigative journalist who joined KPRC 2 in July 2000. Husband and father of the Master of Disaster and Chaos Gremlin. “I don’t drink coffee to wake up, I wake up to drink coffee.”