Among the surprise celebrity appearances at the Sept. 24 Cure by Design Fashion Show was one by top male model Brad Kroenig (pictured with Sydney Page and First Lady of Virginia Maureen McDonnell, the honorary chair for the event).

Governor Bob McDonnell also dropped in to join his wife at the gala, which was held at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa in Short Pump, while national designer Alex Garfield drummed up bids for the live auction.

The event centered around a fashion show featuring nearly 50 local cancer survivors as models. Following the fashion show, the traditional champagne toast and birthday reception was held to honor survivors, who posed with family and friends and celebrated “A World with Less Cancer and More Birthdays.”