Annual art bra event gives survivors a boost
The Breast Cancer Resource Center helps about 5,000 women in Austin and the surrounding area who are battling breast cancer.
Barbara Formecelli of the BCRC said the organization assists in varying ways.
"We are there to help women understand what their treatment options are, their insurance options are and any questions that they may have regarding their breast cancer," she said.
The organization helps women like Amy Huff who was diagnosed in May 2006.
"I was 5 months pregnant with my daughter," Huff said. "I did chemo and surgeries while I was pregnant and had a beautiful and healthy baby girl with a head full of blonde hair."
At a shoot for the BCRC's 2010 calendar, Huff modeled a dragon-fly themed bra called, "Fly Away."
![]()
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
"After going through losing our hair, losing our breasts and feeling like science experiments -- Frankenstein-type people -- it is so wonderful to have people make us up, make us beautiful and get out in front of people," she said.
Leigh Hunsaker was diagnosed with breast cancer while breast feeding her son.
She had a double mastectomy and is still in the fight.
"I have four treatments of Taxol left, which are weekly infusions, and then I'll be facing radiation after that," Hunsaker said.
Formecelli said modeling a bra returns what the cancer takes.
"It's a true inspiration for women to reinforce their beauty, femininity, their strength after having gone through something as serious as breast cancer," she said.
Breast cancer also requires a woman to keep a sense of humor.
"When a woman goes to have a mammogram, you come out feeling flat as a pancake," Formecelli said. "One of our favorites that we received is titled Mammo-cakes. It's a pancake-themed bra."
Kinky Friedman and News 8 Austin's Crestina Chavez have signed on as featured hosts of GRAPHIC III which is at the Design Center at Penn Field, Saturday, April 18.
That's where you can see all the bras and the survivors who will model them.
Latin roots rocker and troubadour Patricia Vonne will provide the music for the event.
Right now, a limited number of tickets are still available. Go to http://www.bcrc.org for more information.