Canadian fashion icon Jeanne Beker co-designs shoe for cancer

Article content

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

Jeanne Beker is a Canadian fashion icon, journalist, author and speaker.

She’s also a cancer survivor.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, the former Fashion Television host has segued her platform of style into one of support for others experiencing cancer.

Beker is taking that mission a step further with a new shoe release with designer Ron White. The made-in-Italy sneaker was created in support of the half-marathon Walk to Conquer Cancer event (Sept. 6), which supports life-saving cancer research at The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation in Toronto.

Priced at $595 (available at The Shopping Channel), the Carry the Fire shoe sees $300 from each pair sold donated to the foundation.

We caught up with Beker to learn more:

Q: How did this collaboration come about? 

A: Ron White and I have been good friends for many years, and work closely together on my show Style Matters on The Shopping Channel.

When The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation asked me to be the impact speaker at this year’s Walk to Conquer Cancer, I thought it would be fun to bring some sort of fashion element to the event, considering my background. Besides have a ‘pink carpet’ moment, where walk participants will be able to strut their stuff and model the outfits they’ll be wearing as they walk the Walk, I thought it would be cool to have some sort of shoe designed in honour of The Foundation’s Carry the Fire campaign.

I immediately thought of asking Ron if he’d be game to come up with a special sneaker for the cause. And when I proposed the idea, Ron immediately said yes.

Q: How did you come up with the design for the Carry the Fire sneaker?

A: Our timeline was very short — Ron has all his shoes manufactured in Italy, and would have to come up with a sample in just a couple of weeks. The design for our shoe is Ron’s — he decided to riff on a bestselling luxury sneaker that was already in his line, and incorporate the Carry the Fire blue and pink campaign colours on the back of the shoe and a bold “CTF” stamp at the top of the shoe’s tongue.

The blue blanket stitching around the upper part of the shoe is also a cool touch that gives the sneaker a bit of an artisanal quality. It reminds me of the wonderfully warm and cosy flannel blankets that I’d be wrapped in during my chemo treatments. They provided so much comfort.

Q: Why is it important to you to support cancer research? 

A: I’ve always enjoyed the fashion and style platform I’ve had for many years now, but it wasn’t until my breast cancer diagnosis in 2022 that I was gifted with this other, more meaningful platform. That was unquestionably one of the silver linings of my cancer journey.

My mission now is to help normalize the conversation surrounding cancer and eradicate the fear. I made the conscious decision early on in my journey to live in the light, and see my personal battle with the disease as the opportunity to prove to myself that I was indeed everything I always said I was — fearless and tenacious.

I can’t think of anything more rewarding and gratifying than helping ease the cancer journeys of others, and giving them hope and the realization that no one is ever truly alone.

Q: What does it mean to you, as a cancer survivor, to help spread awareness? 

A: Cancer affects so very many of us — a much-dreaded disease that comes in all shapes and forms and not only robs us of our joy, but often takes those we love. We’ve come such a long way in the battle against cancer and are at the point where many cancers are not only treatable, but curable. Cancer is no longer the death sentence that it once was.

The research that continues to be done at The Princess Margaret — one of the world’s leading cancer research and treatment centres — is groundbreaking. But we can only make progress with the much-needed funds that are raised from events like The Walk. We all dream of living in a world free of cancer — and it’s heartening to know that we can all play a part in making that dream come true.

Q: As one of Canada’s most iconic fashion insiders, how would you style this sneaker for fall? 

A: There are untold ways to style these great, luxury sneakers, whether you’re wearing them with jeans, a cashmere tracksuit or an oversized, menswear-inspired tailored pantsuit. I also love the idea of teaming these sneakers with textured hose and a cute little minidress as well.

One thing’s for certain: The Carry the Fire luxury sneaker will not only elevate your look, but make you feel incredibly good, knowing that $300 from the sale of each pair is going toward important cancer research, and helping to shine a light for us all on the possibility of living in a world free from the fear of cancer.

Aharris@postmedia.com