Local celebrities including Jason Varitek and Rob Gronkowski modeled Neiman Marcus clothing on Thursday at an event that benefited the Framingham-based Art beCause Cancer foundation. 

"I'm here because my wife is a cancer survivor and once it hits you at home it's totally different," Varitek said. 

Unlike many charities that fund cancer research, the Art beCause foundation aims to find the environmental factors that lead to cancer. 

"Anytime I am able to support a great cause it's an honor," Gronkowski said during the event.