A brassiere covered in plastic fruit or dog bicuits may not provide the smooth silhouette under a T-shirt most brands advertise, but they definitely draw the eye on the hanger.
The Retreat Women’s Health Care staff hopes the whimsical bras will not only draw the eye, but draw awareness to the importance of early detection for breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Awareness month officially began Thursday and The Retreat Women’s Health Center is showing its “support” through the second annual Decorated Bra Contest.
“People got really creative,” said Stacy Bowers, health education coordinator at The Retreat.
From now through the end of October, the lobby of The Retreat Women’s Health Center, 1135 Professional Drive, Goshen, will showcase dozens of decorated bras, each with a slogan promoting mammograms, clinical exams and self-exams.
“We started the event last year as way to do something unique during National Breast Cancer Awareness month,” Bowers said. “Diagnosing breast cancer early makes all the difference. Anything we can do to draw attention to Breast Cancer Awareness and early detection is important.”
For the first year, colleagues from The Retreat submitted entries decorated with a theme and slogan highlighting the importance of early detection. Last year’s winning entry was a dog-treat covered bra with the slogan “Mammograms aren’t as ‘Ruff’ as Breast Cancer. Be your own best friend and get a Mammogram.”
Response to the contest was so overwhelming throughout Goshen Health System and the community, The Retreat opened the contest to all health system colleagues for the second annual event, Bowers said.
“We asked colleagues to get creative, and consider how they would encourage their friend, sister or mother to get a mammogram,” Bowers said. “They really came through, and it is special knowing each entry was created by Goshen Health System colleagues exclusively for the purpose of promoting breast cancer awareness and to help support HeartString Sisters. The entries are fantastic and we’re excited for the community to see them and cast their vote.”
Some of the early favorites are a Wonder Woman design, an owl feathered creation inviting women to give a “hoot.”
There are dualing Notre Dame and Purdue bras, a Mardi Gra bra, one covered in keys (the key is early detection), a plastic fruit bra and even one covered in plastic insects.
Throughout October, community members can vote for their favorite entry one of two ways – either by coming to The Retreat to cast their vote in person or by voting online at www.goshenbracontest.org. Online voting is $1 per vote. Votes cast at The Retreat are 25 cents per vote. All proceeds will benefit the HeartStrings Sisters program that helps provide mammograms for uninsured or underinsured women. HeartStrings Sisters also connects newly diagnosed breast cancer patients to breast cancer survivors.
After votes are tallied, the top 10 bras will go on tour as part of a traveling awareness and educational display at select Goshen Health System sites including Goshen General Hospital lobby, Goshen Center for Cancer Care, The Retreat OB/GYN, Family Health Care of Middlebury, Shipshewana Family Medicine and New Paris Medical Clinic.
Bowers said people have been really excited about the program and ideas for next year are already coming in. She said the hope is to find a way to get the community more involved next October.
Life
Contest aims to ‘support’ early detection of cancer
- Life
-
-
Finding the perfect filler for your garden
Rose mallow is a great garden filler. It’s origins are the genus malvaceae (mallow family) and if you are like I am, the mallow family gets rather confusing.
-
The ‘evolution’ of homeschooling
“Benefit number 9,267 of homeschooling.” That’s one of my favorite lines. I use it — any four-digit number is fine — when I hear something about public schooling I find objectionable, sad, mildly amusing, downright ridiculous or about which I’m simply glad to not have to bother.
-
COLUMN: It’s a new year for all you gardeners
Believe it or not it’s countdown time until spring— maybe I’m stretching it a bit but planting time at all the greenhouses is about to begin. Cuttings will be arriving in just over a month and that means activity.
-
Electoral homefront leaves mom the clear winner
It was the morning after the Iowa caucus. An eager nation had waited into the night, breathless, for an unnamed citizen in a pickup truck to arrive with the last of the votes.
-
When babies bite while nursing and other thoughts
It’s too soon for toilet training — in my house, that is. My toddling, teething baby starts his second year next month (meaning he turns 1).
-
Longtime church secretary retires
GOSHEN — For 15 years visitors to the office of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Goshen were greeted warmly with a big smile by former church secretary Veronica Gouker. And visitors or callers would soon find out what a wealth of information was stored within Gouker as she swiftly and efficiently handled requests.
-
Grapes are a passion in southwest Michigan
Lake Michigan has an impact on the rolling hills of southwest Michigan for grape growers. All the way from the Indiana/Michigan state line, north to the Kalamazoo River, and west to the city of Kalamazoo, where the bulk of the growing is done, moist lake breezes prevent the extremes of heat and cold in the spring and summer months.
-
What keeps you going during the lull of winter?
I’m never quite sure about January. First, there’s the cold, chilling to the bone. When I’m out walking the dog, a sharp western wind numbs my brain as well as my fingers.
Then there’s the realization that winter is still here for a couple of months. After the magic of the holidays, each day turns into every day. -
ICE ESCAPADES IN ELKHART
Winter was slow in coming to the Elkhart County area this year, but now it’s arrived and with it the traditional winter activities are finally available, such as snow-shoeing, sledding and ice skating.
-
Questionable surgery leaves some mothers wounded
Amanda Gobble is angry. She’s working through it and putting her passion to good use for the benefit of others, but her frustration remains an unpleasant companion. This busy Elkhart mom is angry because her four babies were born via cesarean section, and she’s just not convinced they needed to be.
- More Life Headlines
-
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
