October is the month dedicated to raise attention to the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer, breast cancer.
Several events are taking place during the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, from fashion shows and walks to hanging bras, here are some of the ways to participate in the West Michigan area.
Couture for a Cure is a fashion runway that includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, makeup stations, and fashions by Leigh’s and designer Kevan Hall, in order to support research projects focused on rare genetic childhood diseases. Despite the fact that the event is not only focused on breast cancer, it includes several other conditions that affect children. The event will take place on Thursday, October, 9 at 6 pm at the Van Andel Institute, one of the facilities dedicated to investigate these conditions. Tickets can be found online here.
During this month, women may receive mammograms for free through the Pink Saturdays Program, specially dedicated to patients who don’t have insurance. A thousand free mammograms will be provided at almost every hospital in Southwest Michigan, in order to emphasize the importance of early detection and treatment of the disease. Women must contact the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program to verify if they qualify, and provide their identification.
The 4th annual “Rock’n the Runway: Fashion With a Cause” will be held on Saturday October 11, at the William C. Abney Performing Arts Center in Grandville, with the organization of the “Rock The Runway – Girl, Get Your Fight Back.” A pink carpet event designed to honor survivors who fought breast cancer, as well as contributors to the health and well-being of the West Michigan Urban community. The tickets cost $20, part of which will be donated for health education, and can be ordered online.
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Bras across the Grand invites participants to hand their bras at the Blue Pedestrian Bridge to celebrate breast cancer survivors and remember the ones who died due to the disease. Beginning at 8 a.m. on October 25, at the bridge in downtown Grand Rapids, the organization asks women to decorate a bra or to donate $5 to have it decorated there. All of the donations will be used to support free programs and services to cancer patients and breast cancer research, as well as early detection and prevention programs.
The event is being organized in collaboration with the Making Strides against Breast Cancer 5K, a walk held by the American Cancer Society on Saturday, October 25 at downtown Grand Rapids. Almost 500 people already signed up for the Making Strides Walk on the event website, accounting for the $36,000 already raised.