Bra-decorating contest set for July 30 to raise funds for breast cancer research

The Hakuna Bra Tata decorating contest will provide an interesting twist to breast cancer fundraising on Wednesday, July 30, from 5:30 to 10 p.m., at Bauman Nursery & Landscaping in rural Edgar.

Breast cancer survivor Christina Zaleski of rural Stratford and her friend, Debbie Bauman, owner of Bauman Nursery & Landscaping, met to brainstorm ideas for the business’ annual “A Midsummer Night Garden Party.” Every summer, Bauman Nursery and Landscaping hosts the event as a fundraiser for a worthy cause, such as breast cancer research this year. Last summer, the business hosted the event to raise money to fight multiple sclerosis (MS).

“Debbie came up with the idea to have a bra decorating contest,” Zaleski said. “People can either drop off their decorated bras and their $5 contest entry fee to Bauman Nursery & Landscaping before July 30 or they can bring them to the event. Debbie and her husband, Dave, are great people in our community. They stepped up to host an event this spring to raise money to support Brenda Skaya of Stratford in her battle with breast cancer and Larry Lehman of Edgar in his journey for a heart transplant.”

Zaleski founded the Hakuna Ma Tatas breast cancer survivor group after overcoming her own battle with the disease. It is her way of helping other women in their journey to beat breast cancer. She and the other women on the Hakuna Ma Tatas team have raised over $200,000 for breast cancer research during the past three years while walking at Susan G. Komen For the Cure events held throughout the country.

This year, members of Hakuna Ma Tatas are teaming up with Marshfield Clinic Health System to walk in the Pledge for Pink event in October in South Carolina. Zaleski said 100 percent of the money raised goes for cancer research.

Zaleski said all the money raised at the July 30 “A Midsummer Garden Party” at Bauman Nursery & Landscaping and from Pledge for Pink will go toward Marshfield Clinic Health System’s purchase of a Contrast Enhanced Mammography (CEM) machine, which can detect breast cancer earlier in women.

“Our team’s goal is to raise $100,000 this year and we’ve raised $22,500 so far,” she said.