It got even tougher when her husband, Chris, died suddenly of a form of flesh-eating disease.

Now, the 39-year-old Oakville resident and veteran hairstylist is finding out first-hand about the phrase, when the going gets tough ...

Not to stand idly by, her co-workers and friends are stepping up with her.

To that end, An Evening to Remember, a night of family, friends, fashion and fundraising, will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at Le Dome Banquet Hall.

Rogers's co-workers and friends from Rainbow Expressions Salon & Spa, located at 1036 Speers Rd., are hoping to raise at least $15,000 to help Rogers and her three young children -- Curtis, 7, Liam, 5 and Sofia who will be two next month.

That's how much the staff at Rainbow Expressions usually raises within the salon when the staff participates in the annual Walk for Life event.

This year, they're turning their efforts to help Rogers, according to event organizer Jerome Hendricks.

"Silvana, a devoted mother of three young children had just returned to work after giving birth to her third child. As any working mother knows, it is not easy to balance one's family and work, but luckily Silvana had the support of her husband, Chris. Shockingly, shortly after Silvana's return to work, she lost her support: Chris passed away very suddenly, leaving her with three small children to raise on her own," said Hendricks.

"That is where we all come in. With our help and support we can help Silvana get through this difficult time and back on her feet," he said.

Her husband died from a Group A strep infection (a form of flesh-eating disease).

"No idea how he got it, how long he had it. It goes very fast," said Rogers.

Her husband, a Toronto native who was raised in Mississauga, had celebrated his 39th birthday on Feb. 11. He died four days later, on Feb. 15.

Their children are doing okay.

"They're doing okay, better than they were. They're enjoying their summer. They're adjusting. We're all adjusting, day by day," said Rogers who had been married to Chris for 11 years.

"When the show was mentioned to me, at first I felt a little funny about it. You don't want to accept things from people all the time," said Rogers, adding, she came to understand her clients and co-workers were concerned and wanted to do something for her and her children.

"It's wonderful and I'm so grateful and appreciative of everything everyone is doing," said Rogers noting her family has been able to stay in the new home they moved into five years ago.

It has been possible thanks to unwavering and generous support of her family and friends.

Rogers said her husband was a loss recovery manager and had just started with a new company a year before he died. Prior to that he had worked 15 years for Sears as a loss recovery manager (including a stint at Oakville Place).

In fact, that's how the couple met -- before Rogers even began her hairstyling career.

She was working at Simpsons at Woodbine Centre and when Simpsons closed, it re-opened as Sears and the two met while both working for that retailer.

Tickets to the Aug. 27 fundraiser cost $100. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the fashion show starts at 7:30 p.m.

The evening will include a cocktail reception, runway fashion show, music and entertainment and a silent auction.

It will be emceed by Judy Bannerman, a former Halton Woman of the Year and resident advisor of Home Suite Hope in Oakville, an organization that helps people in need of transitional housing.

Hendricks, who grew up in Oakville attending Brookdale and then Thomas A. Blakelock High School, is business partners with Rogers's co-worker Jeff Michener. The duo operate Jeff & Jerome Cosmetics, a supplier of Rainbow Expressions.

Hendricks spends half his year in the Bahamas and the other half in Oakville. A former fashion show organizer in Toronto, Hendricks now does weddings in the Bahamas, however, this time his visit back home to Oakville was extended as he began organizing the fundraiser.

A former classmate of Bannerman's daughter, Hendricks said he has known Bannerman for more than 20 years and quickly approached the local philanthropist to emcee the event.

The Aug. 27 show will feature fashions from a variety of local stores including: Lana's Boutique in Bronte; Hustler on Kerr Street; Lesley Giles Bride also in Bronte; Mainstream Clothiers from downtown Oakville and Zack's Fashions from Oakville Place.

Hair styling will be provided by the Rainbow Expressions creative team and makeup by Jeff & Jerome Cosmetics.

Entertainment by BellyUpBellyDance will also be featured along with reception and intermission music by Oakville-based band, the Pack Rats.

"All proceeds from An Evening to Remember will go directly to Rogers and her children," said Hendricks.

Tickets are available at Rainbow Expressions at 905-847-1110 or fashionshow.silvana@gmail.com. Corporate tables are also available.