Team members bedazzle at Pink Bra Party for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

VERO BEACH — Ocean Oaks Dental Group employees swapped probes for glue guns and joined fellow team members for a Pink Bra Party Thursday night at the Ocean Oaks office. The American Cancer Society introduced a new “Put on your Pink Bra” campaign for this year’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, and participants are taking the bedazzling to heart.

Walkers were challenged to create their own fashionably fabulous pink bras as a symbol of the personal fight against breast cancer. If the embellished bras of this group are any indication, it should be a particularly eye-catching event.

Funds raised by MSABC, which takes place Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Sebastian River Medical Center, are dedicated to help fight breast cancer through research, prevention, early detection, and support programs for patients and families.

To get the creative juices flowing, bartenders Dr. Rob Callery and a pink mustachioed Randy Wytrval doled out chocolate martinis and the evening was turned over to giggles, glue guns and glitter. Looking more like bathing suits than undergarments, the already colorful bras were further adorned with jewels, pink boas, feathers and ribbons.

As the evening progressed, designs began to take shape. Team leader Cathie Callery realized a strip of ribbon resembled the racing stripe on her car and decided, “I’m going with a racing motif – racing for the cure.”

Creating a blast from the past, Cathy Hart’s pink pastel bra was decorated with crystal flowers and inspirational decals with the words hope, strength, endurance and faith.

“Mine is an awareness bra,” explained Hart. “It’s an inspirational flower power bra.”

Other designs included Tamara Welcome’s fluffy pink boa covered “feather- licious” creation, Arielle Noble’s “burlesque” bra, bejeweled with rhinestones and feather flowers, and Kristi White’s “showgirl,” with pink and white gingham, sparkly jewels and pink feathers.

As Jean Leifhelm worked on her “racy lacy” piece, Cathy Hart noticed the price was still on the bra and quipped, “You can take the tag off, Minnie Pearl.”

Those of a certain age cracked up as Leifhelm replied, “Wait – who’s Minnie Pearl?”

Participants are often inspired to walk because of a personal connection; as cancer survivors themselves or to honor family and friends touched by the disease.

As Robin Selzer worked on her “bead it/beat it” design around glittered pink ribbons, she spoke about being a two time breast cancer survivor. First diagnosed 22 years ago, she underwent a lumpectomy with radiation and chemotherapy. Two years later, she had a recurrence and a mastectomy. But it wasn’t until this past November that she decided to have reconstructive surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.

“I’m actually glad I waited; the procedure I had done is relatively new,” she explained. “It wasn’t available back when I would have had it done.”

Dr. Rob Callery, a partner in Ocean Oaks Dental, was installed this summer as the board chairman for the Indian River County Unit of the American Cancer Society. He joined the board in 2001 when this area had its first MSABC; he and Cathie have participated ever since.

“My mother had breast cancer, and my dental assistant Robin has had it twice,” said Callery. “One out of every eight women gets it.”

The goal for the 2011 MSABC is $115,000 and Callery is optimistic saying, “They’re expecting a record number of teams this year; even in this down economy.”

During his two year term as board chairman he hopes to make the community more aware of the numerous programs available to cancer patients.

“People around here don’t know that they have all these great programs, like Look Good/Feel Better, Man to Man, Reach to Recovery and Road to Recovery. Road to Recovery is just amazing to me; that patients can be taken every single day for their treatments and appointments. I want everyone to know not just that we do research, education and advocacy, but that there is also a long list of patient services available to them.”

He will be joined in that effort by Cindy Corbin, who was hired this spring as the new Treasure Coast Area Executive Director.

“She’s got some really cool new ideas and thoughts; I’m looking forward to working with her in the next two years,” said Callery.

For more information MSABC, call (772) 562-2272 ext. 2408 or visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline.

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