By ANDREW J. BERNSTEIN

SARATOGA SPRINGS — For 11 years, the Ronald McDonald House has been the beneficiary of a fashion show at Saratoga Race Course.

This year's event, held Thursday afternoon, was poised to raise $110,000, said Jeffery Yule, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region.

"This is a difficult year; there are other things people have to spend money on,"Co-event chair Kristina Krawchuk said. "So, we came up with the theme of 'Come On — A My House.' Come on to the Ronald McDonald House and see what we're all about."

"Come On — A My House" is the title of a 1951 song by Rosemary Clooney. WNYT's Benita Zahn performed the tune at the start of the show.

The Ronald McDonald House is a charitable organization that provides housing to families that have a child undergoing treatment in a hospital.

Mary Pat Bichteman, a volunteer at the house, located in Albany, said that people curious about the house should come for a visit to understand the important role that the house can play for a family of a sick child.

"Often, these families' whole lives are turned upside down," Bichteman said. "They have jobs, but that's the least of their worries. Our job is to makes sure they don't have to think about anything except their child."

Rosa Tabora, another volunteer attending Thursday's fashion show, added that many families coming to stay at the house can't believe that they don't need to bring anything — the facility provides everything from food to linens to toiletries.

"I like to help the children," she said. "I had open heart surgery when I was little, so I like to help others now."

Yule said it costs about $80 a night to host a family at the house, and with the average stay lasting eight days, fundraisers like Thursday's fashion show are important.

"It's nice to have this chunk of change," he said, adding that the event has grown.

This year, organizers added five additional tables.

The house serves 25 counties in the Capital Region, as well as parts of Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and any family visiting the Albany Medical Center.

With the economy faltering and funds available for charitable donations short, Yule said the event relied this year on traditional methods, such as recruiting table "captains" to sell tickets and word of mouth.

For the several hundreds who turned out, the fashion show, organized by Natalie Sillery, of Saratoga Trunk, as well as a silent auction and lunch, was more than a diversion on a Thursday afternoon.

The show featured designs from many well known designers.

Fourty-eight Models displayed hundreds of different styles.

"This is unbelievable," said Tabora, the Ronald McDonald House volunteer.

"It's so high end, the clothes are beautiful, and it just fits with the whole atmosphere of Saratoga," Bichteman said.