| Bras. Supportive? Yes. Comfortable? Sometimes. Art? Never. Until now�
With the help of talented local breast cancer survivors, celebrities, fashion
designers and artists, LifeBridge Health is hosting the first-ever braVo! event, which will
feature a collection of one-of-a-kind artfully decorated bras.
The "art bras" will be on exhibit during a daylong event held at the
Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on October 25 to raise awareness for breast cancer. The
public will have the opportunity to view and bid on these wonderful pieces of
art during the open house and silent auction being held from noon to 4 p.m. A
cocktail reception and live auction will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets to
the evening event are $60 and can be purchased by call the LifeBridge Health
Development Office at 410-601-4438.
"The main purpose of this project is to increase breast cancer awareness in
the greater Baltimore area," said Rudy Miller, vice president of Marketing and
Community Relations at LifeBridge Health. "We knew with all of the talented and
creative individuals in our community, braVo! would be great way to bring people
together to raise awareness for this disease."
Additionally, funds raised will benefit the underserved in the greater
Baltimore area gain access to cancer-related treatments not covered by
insurance. Proceeds from the auction and sale of the handcrafted bras will
benefit patients being treated at the Alvin
& Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute at LifeBridge Health including
the Herman & Walter Samuelson Breast Care Center at Northwest
Hospital.
National and local celebrities alike are participating in this creative
project. Peggy Fleming, Olympic Champion and breast cancer survivor, created a
bra inspired by the many women ice skaters who balance athleticism and beauty
while performing. Baltimore native and local businesswoman Lola Jones embraced
her hometown roots to create "Baltimore Charm City Girls," a tribute to the
infamous Baltimore Hon.
Other artists include Sandra Magsamen, Miss Maryland USA 2006 Melissa
DiGiulan, Jennifer Cody of Broadway�s "Pajama Game," Sloane Brown, Everyman
Theatre and the Baltimore Opera.
The braVo! event was inspired by Victoria Brown, who, along with a group of
her friends, created the ArtBras exhibit to bring attention to women�s wellness.
In 2005, the ArtBras project featured 18 decorated bras in honor, and often in
memory, of women who courageously endured the battle with breast cancer.
Last year, more than 49 bras were sent to nearly 300 communities to help
raise money for breast cancer.
"Twenty years ago, people didn�t even talk about breast cancer, now we are
handing out bras for people to decorate," commented Miller. "We�ve come a long
way to raise breast cancer awareness over the years. However, until there is a
cure, we still have a long way to go."
LifeBridge
Health is a regional health organization that includes Sinai
Hospital of Baltimore, Northwest Hospital Center, Levindale Hebrew
Geriatric Center and Hospital, Jewish
Convalescent & Nursing Home, and related subsidiaries and
affiliates.
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