Published: October 07, 2009 12:53 pm      

Contest aims to ‘support’ early detection of cancer

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.