Students from all across Edmonds School District (ESD) gathered in the MTHS theater Sunday, May 3 for the second annual “Take This Dress to Heart Fashion Show.”

The show was from 2 to 3 p.m., followed by a dress sale in the HUB which lasted until 5:30 p.m.

The fashion show and dress sale was organized by the Heart of Edmonds School District and Community Heart Safe Project along with the Nick of Time Foundation, organizations whose primary goal is to raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).

The intention of the fashion show was to raise money to supply ESD schools with Automated External Defibrillators (AED), which are portable devices used on people after they collapse from SCA in order to read and analyze their heart rhythm and restore it to a natural rhythm.

During the fashion show, students from all four ESD high schools strutted onstage in beautiful ballgowns and handsome tuxedos, all of which would later be for sale downstairs.

While they walked, MCs and Meadowdale High School (MHS) seniors Alicia Wright and JD Valle commented on what they liked about each couple, along with witty and charming jokes that made the audience laugh throughout the show.

Halfway through the fashion show, Nick of Time Foundation organizer Darla Davenport was put in the spotlight and spoke about her fundraiser and the importance of awareness and education about SCA. Davenport created the organization after her son, Nick Davenport, collapsed and died from SCA.

She said it is vital for students to be CPR-certified and trained on what to do when someone goes into SCA.

“This is the only thing that will save [SCA victims],” Davenport said. “Awareness and being trained in CPR.”

The Nick of Time Foundation has organized multiple flash mobs around ESD. According to Davenport, they will have free heart screenings at Mariner High School Wed, May 6 and at MTHS in June. These will be open to students and other community members.

After Davenport spoke, a video was shown that MC Wright put together. In the video, Wright interviewed multiple students from her school, MHS, about what they knew about SCA before a student at their school collapsed and died from it, what they know now and what they would do in a similar situation.

Following this was an outstanding performance by 2015 ESD Talent Show winners Maddy Caiola, Joshua Leben and Laura Rhynard.

They performed a cover of “Lay Me Down” by Sam Smith while wearing dresses and tuxedos that would also be for sale.

After a final round of formal wear was shown off, female attendees of the show were escorted out to look through prom dresses.

Afterward, MC Valle commented on how it already looked like a prom and asked for music to be played so they could have a mock prom. The night ended with thanks to everyone who helped and a bow from all of the models.

The dress sale was then held downstairs, with a few vendors showing off their own individual tables and dresses hung on racks to be sold for various prices.