Nicole Robinson wasn’t in the right emotional space to hold the 40th birthday bash she had always dreamed about.A single mother, she was struggling to make ends meet.She’s now back on her feet and ready to help others in the predicament she found herself in a year ago.Ms Robinson is holding a fashion show fundraiser, Dreams, Visions and Realities, at the Berkeley Institute’s Lower Atrium next Saturday as she celebrates her 41st birthday.Money raised will go towards three of her charities — Family Centre, Women’s Resource Centre and Bermuda Cancer and Health.She said: “I wanted to do this to give back to the community because there are a lot of families who are struggling and in need of much.“If I can give back and not receive presents, but give any money raised as a present, I believe it should help. Maybe not in a big way, but some sort of way.”Her hope is that her efforts motivate others to host similar events.Ms Robinson got stuck in a rut a couple years ago. She said it was “frustrating and challenging” because she needed help, but the places she tried to turn to for help couldn’t assist.“When you go to certain places they say you make too much money to receive certain benefits, but it still wasn’t enough for rent, gas, food and everything else,” she said.“Right now I am back on my feet and pushing ahead to get further. I went back into the church [at Marsden Methodist], do community service every week for Mirrors and sing in the choir and dance.“I love spending quality time with my daughter and I am happier and feel more fulfilled because I am not in that space anymore.”The fashion show will feature a variety of vintage designs.She began planning for the event last October. On offer is a fashion show featuring average community members, highlighting goods from stores like A2Z and Orange Bay Company.Ms Robinson said she dreamed of owning her own clothing line and store as a youngster; she describes the upcoming show as a “dream come true”.“I will be going back to the days when little girls used to dress up in patent leather shoes and socks with frills and bows in their hair,” Ms Robinson said. “Women used to wear gloves with hats and perhaps big dresses.“It reminds me of my childhood and I think in some way we need to start going back to those times because the children these days are growing up so fast. They need to stay children for a while.“I know the world is changing, but it seems their innocence gets taken away too fast,” she said.She’s always believed in giving back. “If I can see a child with a sweater on their back and food in their stomach and know I did my part then I feel good about it.“We all need to do our part because it takes a village to raise a child. If we don’t all participate and unite together it’s going to keep getting worse. We need to be the change we want to see.”Family members and friends such as Deborah Bean, Donna and Domico Watson, Lakai Robinson, Shawnette Flood, Amy Browne and Karla Trott gave her the push she needed to host the event.Ms Robinson expects this could be the first of a series of community events.She said: “I just want people to come out and have a good time because it’s a fashion show but it’s also relaxing. It’s not stuffy, it’s going to be fun.”Tickets, $35, are on sale at Progressive Realty on Victoria Street, Hamilton. People can also purchase tickets from Irma Burrows by phoning 295-4255. Patron tickets are $100 and include a meal. Next Saturday’s show is scheduled to start at 7pm, with doors opening at 6.30pm.