A touch of N’Awlins: Mardi Bras comes to county’s fight

Breast Cancer Awareness

This year, the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation brings in the Big Easy for an unforgettable display of art, fashion and philanthropy designed to promote breast cancer awareness.

Organizers of this year’s second annual Bras for the Cause breast cancer awareness and fundraising event are teaming up to spread the word to an even bigger audience at the Hopkins County Stew Contest. Bras for the Cause promotes breast cancer awareness and raises funds for the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation. The proceeds will go to fund a continuing free mammogram screening program for uninsured women over age 40 and allow the Foundation’s In My Closet to continue providing prosthetics, wigs and other items to cancer survivors whose insurance may not cover everything.

“We had wonderful participation last year,” Caddell said. “There were 55 bras entered, and Bras for the Cause raised more than $12,000.”

This year, the event is moving from City Hall to Buford Park and will be held in conjunction with the 50th annual Hopkins County Stew Cook-Off on Saturday, Oct. 26. The decorated bras will be on display Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25 and 26, in the new 2019 Stew Fest Market, which will be located on the south side of Buford Park. Voting will be open all day on Saturday.

“It’s $1 a vote, just like last year, and we’ll announce the results that day,” Caddell said.

Participants will have one month to design their concept and bring to life their artistic vision in keeping with breast cancer awareness.

The bras displayed will be made of a variety of materials and decorated tastefully to be appropriate for all ages. Each submission will be titled with a description. Every person or team submitting a decorated bra for consideration will be given a ribbon to wear for the evening to indicate their participation.

The categories for the entries are Mardi Gras, Awareness and Business.

The bra earning the most votes, and therefore the most money, in each category will be named the winner, and the Top Judges Pick in each will receive a Brazzie Award.

Bras may be displayed at businesses and other locations around town prior to the Stew Cook-Off.