Challenge Your Fashion presented by Pro Athlete was filled with fun, fashion and great times. Our 14th annual event was held on March 5, 2022 at the Loews Hotel in Downtown Kansas City.

Thanks to our guests, volunteers and event sponsors for making this year's event such a success. We also thank Greg and Linda Westbrook for co-chairing the event, as well as the 2022 planning committee for their support.

This great night for a great cause benefits the YMCA of Greater Kansas City’s Challenger program, which provides children with disabilities the opportunity to build confidence, learn new skills and make friends through sports programs, swim lessons, social events, before and after school programs and more.

"Funds raised from Challenge Your Fashion will help the Y continue these life-changing programs,” said John Mikos, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. “The peer interaction is critical to social, emotional and cognitive well-being and success. When everyone has a chance to participate, it helps make all of us stronger.”

Challenge Your Fashion guests enjoyed delicious food and beverages, silent and live auctions, a photo booth, caricature drawings, live music from Willie Thorton and the band Twice on Sunday, as well as a special appearance from Kansas City Royals Mascot Sluggerrr.

But the night was all about the fashion show featuring YMCA Challenger athletes and buddies, and celebrity guests from our local sports teams. Models this year included Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders, former Kansas City Chiefs players Trent Bryant, Kendall Gammon and Danan Hughes, and former University of Missouri basketball player and scout for the New Orleans Pelicans Jarrett Sutton. The models wore clothing provided by Dillard's Zona Rosa and watches provided by Garmin.

Emcees Steven St. John, Co-Host of Border Patrol on Sports Radio 810, and Yve Rojas, actress, auctioneer and Survivor contestant, hosted the show. Yve also hosted the live auction, along with help from Kansas City Royals Broadcaster Rex Hudler.

The YMCA Challenger Buddy Award was presented to Josh and Lisa Thomas to recognize their support of the Challenger program. They host an annual golf tournament that has raised more than $120,000 since 2013. Their daughter, Abby, has been in the program since 2007, and Grant and Kale Thomas are volunteer buddies.

Tom and Shelley Gifford, parents of Challenger athlete and Challenge Your Fashion model Alexis, talked about how much Challenger means to their family and how they have found support from the program and other Challenger families.

You can learn more about the Gifford family in this video.

We were also honored to host Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO of the YMCA of the USA, at the event. Suzanne is the fifteenth person and first woman to lead YMCA of the USA, the national resource office for Ys across the country, which is based in Chicago.

Take a look at our Google Photos gallery for event photos. 

For the latest announcements, photos and news, follow the fun and excitement of YMCA Challenger activities and events on Facebook!