When a Mayor gets giddy about introducing you to a room full of doctors and high-profile donors, its hard to ignore the influence you’ve created.

Mayor of Westlake in Texas, Laura Wheat presented an award to Carmen Marc Valvo at this year’s Cancer Support Community Gala held at Pier 61 of Chelsea Piers. He looked dapper in a slim lapel suit and crisp white shirt embellished with fanciful ruffle running down one side. Men know Carmen Marc Valvo for the glamorous occasion dresses their wives or girlfriends buy at Saks, Bergdorfs, and Neimans. But last nights event highlighted his health history, or as he humorously put it, “coming out of the cancer closet.”

The Italian-Hispanic fashion designer suffered from colon cancer, but kept it a dire secret. To avoid prying eyes, he scheduled doctor appointments in the early morning, and didn’t mention it to friends or family.

As part of the roller coaster ride cancer put him through, Carmen Marc Valvo used his career as a fashion designer as a platform to share his story. He contacted Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour as well as New York Fashion Week creator Fern Mallis to “come out” and offer support.

Ever since, the designer has been involved with many a charity. What struck the Cancer Support Community about Carmen Marc Valvo’s story is how, without any affiliation to the medical community, he reached out and raised awareness within his world of fashion. As he himself confesses, “I don’t watch the news, I don’t do reality TV or anything like that. My world is fashion because it consumes me.”

Carmen Marc Valvo proves the Cancer Support Community’s theme for the night: Do the best you can do with what you have–your own story.