FIGHT TO THE FINISH
In keeping with tradition, Malibu’s Linda Thompson turned heads at the 19th Annual Race to Erase MS fundraiser at the Century Plaza Hotel. Linda was a dream in tangerine, as was her host, MS survivor and advocate Nancy Davis. Nancy welcomed her well-heeled guests to a super splashy event, themed “Glam Rock to Erase MS.”
As usual, the shindig kicked off with a glitzy VIP cocktail party and silent auction. Guests made the rounds, while tabloid darlings and celebs like Khloe Kardashian-Odom and Lamar Odom, Taylor Dayne, Francesca Eastwood, Carmen Electra, Shannon Elizabeth, Clementine Ford, Camille Grammer, Taylor Hicks, LaToya Jackson, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Jon Lovitz, Jack Osbourne, Kim Richards and Charlie Sheen waltzed down the red carpet past a sea of paparazzi.
Once inside, they had a chance to snap up some 500 high-end auction items from great getaways to sports memorabilia.
The stage was dressed in ‘60s hot pink and Nancy’s signature electric orange. As guests took their seats for dinner they were treated to an eye-popping fashion show featuring styles from the Andy Hilfiger Andrew Charles Rock ‘N’ Roll Collection, in addition to a presentation of the Authentic Icon Collection, inspired by American Idol.
Celebrity fashion show models included Spencer Boldman, Diana DeGarmo, Shannon Elizabeth, Clementine Ford, Taylor Hicks, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Jacob Lusk and Ace Young.
The evening also included a very fashion friendly live auction called by Shaun Robinson and Jason Kennedy. Lucky bidders walked away with items such as a Live Fashion Week Package with tix to the Tommy Hilfiger women’s fall fashion show, the Monique Lhuillier runway show and the Badgley Mischka runway show, plus gift certificates! There was also a five-night stay at the glorious Vomo Private Island Resort in Fiji, an amazing one-week yacht charter, and even a shopping spree with Paris and Nicky Hilton.
Race to Erase MS once again hosted a variety of musical performances throughout the evening. American indie pop band Fitz and The Tantrums opened the show performing hits “Don’t Gotta Work It Out,” “L.O.V.,” a cover of “Sweet Dreams” and “Money Grabber.” American Idol winner David Cook followed with an energetic set including “The Last Song I’ll Write for You,” “Light On” and a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll.” Also making an appearance was vocal quartet The Tenors, who had a two-song set including Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”
They saved the best for last with legendary Stevie Wonder performing some of his greatest hits, including “Come Let Me Make Your Love Come Down,” “Higher Ground,” “Easy On Yourself,” “Isn’t She Lovely” and “Superstition.”
In Race to Erase MS tradition, a rendition of “Lean On Me” was performed as the grand finale, led by Stevie Wonder, who joined Nancy Davis, LaToya Jackson, Clay Walker, David Cook, The Tenors, and past American Idol contestants including Pia Toscano, Ace Young, Taylor Hicks, Diana DeGarmo and Jacob Lusk.
The evening raised a whopping $1.8 million to make MS a thing of the past.