Western Financial Group puts in their breast effort

Times Contributor

 

For the first time ever, Strathmore Branch of Western Financial Group (WFG), will be hosting the fundraiser Bras for a Cause, with proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Supportive Care Foundation. 

Paper bras are being sold at the base price of $2 or at any desired donation. The bras will be strung up all around WFG’s office, which looks “pretty funny,” according to Keri Grove, Customer Service Representative at WFG and organizer of Strathmore’s version of Bras for a Cause.

“I got a call from our Drumheller location; they did Bras for a Cause last year and kind of wanted to pass the torch,” said Grove. “I’ve been doing a few charities in office all year now so I decided to take it on. I contacted the Breast Cancer Supportive Care Foundation and they were totally on board for us to help them out.”

In previous years, Bras for a Cause have collected used bras that would be cleaned and distributed to women in need. For every bra donated, money would be contributed from sponsors to the Breast Cancer Supportive Care Foundation. Calgary radio station, Vibe 98-5 started the campaign, Bras for a Cause in 2005. 

“Last year, Virgin radio collected so many bras and now they don’t have the funds to get them cleaned and distributed, so that’s what we’re doing this year. We are just selling the paper bras so we can get more funds to them,” said Grove. 

Anyone interested in donating can stop by Strathmore’s Western Financial Group at 105A, 100 Ranch Market. If transportation is an issue, Grove said she is more than willing to make house calls or go wherever that makes it easiest to collect the donation. 

“I carry the bras with me wherever I go,” laughs Grove. 

In the years to come, Grove would like to get other businesses involved with selling and displaying the paper bras. As it is Strathmore’s first year holding Bras for a Cause, the trial campaign is only affiliated with WFG and everyone who works there.  

The fundraiser will be wrapping up on Nov. 18 where a cheque will be presented to the Breast Cancer Supportive Care Foundation. Bras for a Cause, as well as Breast Cancer Awareness Month normally runs throughout the month of October, but since WFG had to manufacture their own paper bras while making sure that all profits could be purely sent to the Supportive Care Foundation, WFG were given the time delay.

“I’m thinking November 18th might be a little chilly because we only have the parking lot area to do something with. This year is small but next year we hope to go bigger,” said Grove. 

For more information about donating to Bras for a Cause, please contact Western Financial Group, Strathmore Branch at 403-934-5444, or visit the Breast Cancer Supportive Care Foundation’s website, http://www.breastcancersupportivecare.com for more opportunities to donate to the cause.