Champagne and roses, diamonds and chocolate ...
... glue sticks, glitter and paper mach茅?
They have more in common than it might appear, as 91原创 Soroptimists鈥� Bras for a Cause returns for its sixth big kick at cancer on Saturday, Feb. 12.
This year鈥檚 event, titled the Heart鈥檚 Desire Gala, isn鈥檛 a Valentine鈥檚 affair, per se 鈥� organizers don鈥檛 want people to think they can鈥檛 come if they don鈥檛 have a date. But the timing was perfect to give the cancer fundraiser a heart-y welcome back.
91原创 Soroptimists, the women鈥檚 service club which has hosted the annual event since 2005, took a break last year while the Vancouver Olympics dominated people鈥檚 schedules.
It also seemed prudent to sit out the economic downturn, while giving club members a break from the labour-intensive project, said Kelly Poustie, co-chair of this year鈥檚 event.
Now that it鈥檚 back, the club is promising a return to the highlights that have made the fundraiser a hit in past years, selling out the 400-seat room at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre.
Once again, there will be celebrity-autographed bras on the auction block, as well as 100 works of imaginative underwear art up for sale, with proceeds going to benefit Breast Cancer Clinic, Ovarian Cancer Canada and Breast Friends (Philippines).
It also promises to be another star-studded affair.
Actor Tom Cruise is in town and the committee is working on getting the movie star to scrawl his name across a silky cup.
They鈥檙e also hoping to get the cast of Twilight to sign and donate a bra.
鈥淲e鈥檙e working on lots of angles,鈥� said Poustie.
They鈥檝e already got one signed by the cast of Pawn Stars 鈥� a reality show which airs on the History Channel.
And in past years, such celebrities as Sara McLachlan, Michael Bubl茅, the Barenaked Ladies and even former U.S. president Bill Clinton have come through for the club.
Among the bras that are being decorated locally is a nursing bra which has been pinned open, revealing painted images of babies nursing on either side, and another made of wood, entitled 鈥淔lat as a Board.鈥�
The second was made by Poustie鈥檚 dad, who lost his wife to ovarian cancer.
Another bra which will be on display was created by Sindi Hawkins, the former Kelowna MLA who died of leukemia last September.
鈥淭hat one is pretty special,鈥� said Poustie.
For her part, Poustie is working on one called 鈥淗eart of Glass鈥�
鈥淲hich is interesting, because I don鈥檛 know how I鈥檓 going to get it there without breaking it,鈥� she laughed.
Despite the finite number of puns to draw on, each year brings a host of unique designs.
鈥淧eople are still surprising us,鈥� said Poustie.
鈥淓ven when they use the same name (as a previous entry) the whole approach and creativity is different.鈥�
The bras, many of which will be accompanied by valuable prizes, will be sold on tables 鈥楢鈥�, 鈥楤鈥� and 鈥楧D鈥� in the 鈥渘ot-so-silent鈥� auction.
There will also be a 鈥渓ively鈥� auction of five or six big ticket items.
The evening will include live entertainment, and somebody will leave with a nice new bit of bling on their finger 鈥� a diamond ring valued at $8,000. Over the course of the night 400 keys will be sold for $20 each. The person who holds the key that opens the lock wins the jewelry.
Leading up to the gala event on Feb. 12, Save On Foods in Willoughby and Walnut Grove will host a fundraising event in their stores, with a prize wheel people can spin for a small price 鈥� with all proceeds going to Bras for a Cause. It happens Jan. 29 and 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Altogether, event sponsors have contributed $60,000 in cash and in-kind donations to the event.
鈥淲e are so please with out sponsors,鈥� said Poustie. 鈥淲ithout their support the event wouldn鈥檛 be so successful.鈥�
Anyone interested in decorating and donating a bra (the fee is $100) can find more information at brasforacause.ca.
Tickets for the event are now available. They are $90 each or $850 for a table of 10. Call 604-888-6605.
