British Columbians Donate Bras to Breast Cancer Clinic in La Penita Jessica Kerr - Delta Optimist
go to original August 22, 2014

An annual event in a Ladner, B.C. subdivision last weekend supported women battling breast cancer in Mexico.

Longtime Ladner resident Marlyn Ferguson was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago, and after undergoing a double mastectomy, she decided it would be the perfect time to burn some of her bras.

"I thought, 'Hey, this would be a good chance to have a bra burning,'" she said.

However, a conversation with some neighbours changed her mind. Linda McCannell and Elaine Varney suggested instead of burning her bras, Ferguson donate them to the Cancer de Mama Clinic in Mexico.

And a new tradition was born.

The fourth annual Bra Burning Party in support of the Cancer de Mama Clinic in La Penita, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico last Saturday night collected close to 200 bras and raised more than $600 for the cause. No bras are actually burned at the party; instead attendees are asked to bring a new or gently used bra or a cash donation.

The event takes place in the South Pointe subdivision, a 55-plus community, and always includes food, music and lots of camaraderie. This year, the party also included the annual visit from two of Delta's finest, Ferguson said with a laugh, to tell the crowd of mostly seniors to keep it down.

"They show up every year," she said. "It's tradition now that the police show up."

Ferguson said both the Corporation of Delta and the police department told her that noise would be permitted until 10 p.m., however the men in blue shut it down at 9:30 p.m. this year.

The Cancer de Mama Clinic provides free prosthesis and specially altered bras to Mexican women dealing with breast cancer.

The clinic, which is only held for three days a year in La Penita de Jaltemba in Nayarit, also funds medical expenses, helps with counseling and physical therapy after surgery, and provides wigs, scarves and hats for the women.

Nayarit has the highest instance of breast cancer in Mexico and every year hundreds of women come from surrounding cities and villages, some hours away, to attend the clinic. Most do not have enough insurance to cover post-surgery care and are left on their own. Prosthetics typically cost $350 to $500.

"For most people [in Mexico], that's a whole family income," McCannell said.

New and gently used bras are donated and altered to add pockets to hold the prosthetics.

McCannell and Varney got involved with the clinic after checking out the La Penita RV park. The clinic takes place in the park with many of the residents volunteering to help out.

McCannell said for weeks before the clinic, residents of La Penita sort donations of scarves, hats, wigs, prosthetics and bras, and add the pockets to the bras.

On the day of the clinic, the women start arriving by bus hours before it is set to open.

Last year, Cancer de Mama helped more than 550 women.

For more information, visit Cancer de Mama Clinic online. To make a donation locally in B.C., email Linda McCannell at mccvarn@telus.net.

  Learn about Cancer de Mama Clinic