A Night of Wigs and Wishes, Martino Cartier's fundraiser for www.friendsarebyyourside.com was an amazing success. More than 1000 friends, celebrities and salon professionals attended the fun and moving evening held this week in Berlin, NJ. Modern was invited to join the Keratin Complex team (Cartier is the Keratin Complex International Artistic Director), where $100,000 was raised for the charity.
It was an unforgetable evening, from Cartier entering the ballroom with a lion cub to the unveiling of a portrait of A Night of Wigs and Wishes inspiration KIKI (Cartier's friend who lost her life to cancer after he fulfulled her wish of meeting Justin Bieber). The room was filled with Friends Are By Your Side supporters, including Tabatha Coffey, the cast of Jerseylicious, Mary Sciarrone of Cake Boss and recording artist Liv Devine.
There were several magical moments including a surprise recorded message from Michael Buble announcing his offer to meet a Friends Are By Your Side child, a cancer victim receiving a wig and crown on stage and a performance by deaf comedienne and motivational speaker Kathy Buckley. For Cartier, "Every moment was special," he says, "but was seeing all the people who came to attend and participate...flying in from all over to help and support, meant the most to me."
Cartier founded Friends Are By Your Side in May 2011 with a goal to help patients who have undergone chemotherapy. The foundation, now in 7 countries, provides wigs to those who have lost hair due to treatment, and also grants wishes for patients including trips and celebrity meet and greets. "This Charity means everything to me," says Cartier. "Women and children who have lost hope allow me to put a smile on their faces. When I put my head on my pillow at night, I know I am making a difference in the lives of so many people."
www.friendsarebyyourside.com
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