In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Woman’s is taking bra art into the community again this year. Woman’s has asked local businesses, organizations, and individuals to design their own bra-of-art to help raise awareness and money for their mobile mammography program.
BUST Out is a spin-off of the hospital’s annual BUST Breast Cancer event scheduled for January 27, 2022 at L’Auberge Baton Rouge. The traditional event involves limited guests cheering on breast cancer survivors modeling bras created by local artists in a live fashion show. However, this virtual option invites anyone in the community to decorate their own bra and display it in their storefront or social media accounts to encourage others to cheer them on with online donations that count as votes.
“BUST Out really started as an improvised version of BUST Breast Cancer in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the widespread community support and participation blew us away,” said Keila Stovall, Woman’s chief philanthropy officer. “We love that this event allows everyone in our community to not only participate but help spread awareness for breast cancer and the importance of mammograms, which is our ultimate goal.” So far, Woman’s has more than 20 community participants.
BUST Out is a community-driven event and there are multiple ways to participate:
Design a bra-of-art. Woman’s will provide a basic bra for you to decorate and promote on social media to raise donations.
Vote/Donate. Starting Sept. 24, go online to vote for your favorite bra with a donation.
Spread Awareness. Share your favorite bra and Woman’s Breast Cancer Awareness social media posts to your own page throughout the month of October.
Like BUST Breast Cancer, BUST Out supports Woman’s mobile mammography program which increases access to mammograms by bringing screenings to churches, workplaces, grocery stores, and community centers in surrounding areas. In 2020, the program provided approximately 3,000 screenings in 22 parishes and detected 16 breast cancers.
“Data shows that many women have missed their annual mammogram in the last year because of the pandemic,” Stovall explained. “Our mobile coaches are able to provide advanced 3D screening technology to women who may still be a little hesitant to enter a hospital or may not even otherwise have access. And every dollar raised helps us bring that opportunity to even more women.”
For more information on Woman’s BUST Out Campaign, visit www.womans.org or email nicole.carr@womans.org.