Staff photo by Joshua Curry
Paola Segura hangs her bra on Wednesday, Oct.17, at Wilmington Plastic Surgery in honor of National Bra Day at an event hosted by Ta Ta’s Sisterhood of the Cape Fear.
Wilmington Plastic Surgery and Laser and Skin Care Clinic hosted its first National Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day event on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Partnered with the Ta Ta’s Sisterhood of Cape Fear and free bra fittings from Lilies and Lace, the day began at 10 a.m. with the air filled with pink balloons.
For the BRA Day event, donations were collected to benefit breast cancer awareness projects, like the Ta Ta’s Sisterhood. Donation levels ranged from $20 to as much as $500, which included special gifts from Wilmington Plastic Surgery like free T-shirts and facials depending on donation levels.
Gail Calloway, co-founder of the Ta Ta’s Sisterhood, was asked to help coordinate the event and said events like these are important for the cause and the people.
“I’ve worked a lot with Wilmington Plastic Surgery and I thought this would be great and fun hanging bras,” she said. “They’ve supported the Ta Ta’s from the start and I think it’s a good way for local people to give some support back. The proceeds are going to local nonprofits, too.”
Calloway and co-founder, Lauren Levian, had both been diagnosed with breast cancer when they decided to start the sisterhood’s yearly calendar and wanted all proceeds to go to uninsured or under-insured women. With no overhead, Calloway and Levian said these funds help with surgeries, prescriptions and other costly medical needs that hundreds of women cannot afford.
At about 11 a.m., while refreshments and food were ready to be served, Claudia, the pink fire truck from Guardian’s of the Ribbon announced its arrival with a loud honk. Parked in front of the clinic, the massive truck did not block sight of the new “Closing the Loop on Breast Cancer” wire sculpture. Completed by local artist Michael Van Hout, the 10-foot, 3D infinity symbol resembles a ribbon to represent the breast reconstruction journey.
Guy Williams, administrator for Wilmington Plastic Surgery, who wore a pink and white striped bowtie for the occasion, said the sculpture was revealed at the Run for the Ta Tas on Oct. 6, where it collected its first few bras.
“The first bra hung was from a breast cancer survivor, who ran in the race, and from men who had actually worn bras as well,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll have this sculpture all decked out in bras … and after we finish it today, we’re going to leave it out here for the rest of October and then we’re going to travel with it.”
One stop will include the Cameron Art Museum and a possible statewide trip before the sculpture is donated to the Zimmer Cancer Center at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
