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Student spearheads American Heart Association benefit

Student Erin Bleakley is hosting a benefit for the American Heart Association.

Erin Bleakley is a DU student with some heart to give, and it’s going to show during the Feb. 18 benefit she’s hosting for the American Heart Association at the Tuscan Ballroom in DU’s Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management.

The senior business major and fashion designer — owner of Erin Kathleen Couture —will appropriately have fashion at the heart of the benefit. She’ll show clothes from her recent collection along with sophomore Sam Vinson, who will show designs for his line, Atone Clothing Ltd.

Bleakley also is collaborating with DU art students Eric Schneider, Tyler Fergusen and Lisa Martin, who are donating works for a silent auction that will kick off the benefit at 5 p.m.

Martin, a senior studio art and ceramics major from Fruita, Colo., says she is donating two oil paintings — one is a landscape from the Canadian mountains, and another is of a rose.

“I wanted to donate artwork because the American Heart Association is not only a great organization, but Erin has done an excellent job of bringing a large variety of students on campus together to all contribute to a great cause,” Martin says.

There also will be live music performances.

For Bleakley, hosting a benefit for the American Heart Association has a special meaning.

“My grandmother had a code-blue heart attack when she was 59. She was on life support for a week,” she says. “She was, by some miracle and some grace of God, able to pull through it. Since then she had three pacemakers, and today she is 85.”

“Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women in the United States, so it hits close to home for everyone,” Bleakley says. February is American Heart Month.

Runway seats are $25; general admission is $10. All ticket proceeds and proceeds from the silent art auction will go to the American Heart Association. Register online or contact Bleakley at Erin.Bleakley@du.edu to attend.


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