PORT McNEILL—Lyn Skrlac was beginning to wonder of North Islanders had begun to take the Bras for a Cause benefit for granted.
That was clearly not the case for one group of visitors to the region last week.
“This is the first time we’ve seen something like this,” said Jelle Fennis of The Netherlands as he looked over the selection of wildly decorated bras at The Flower Shoppe last week. “I think it’s a great initiative.”
Bras for a Cause is now in its fifth year at The Flower Shoppe. When the fund-raiser for the Canadian Cancer Society’s fight against breast cancer began in 2010, it was a popular breath of fresh air locally, and coaxed both residents and visitors to create decorated, themed bras that are placed on display at the shop for a $5 donation.
An additional donation of $2 allows for a vote on one’s favourite bra, and a variety of prizes are awarded to the top vote-getters.
This year’s promotion wraps up, as usual, with OrcaFest this weekend. Skrlac has been seeking more entries — and more votes — for the benefit, and was quick to invite Fennis and his family into her shop when she saw them laughing at and posing for pictures with the bras hung on the outside of the building at the end of Pioneer Mall.
Fennis was joined by his parents, Frans and Jose Fennis, and Tamar Betiet, and they all promptly went inside to see additional entries in the fund-raiser, still not understanding what it’s all about.
While Jose Fennis appeared to negotiate a purchase with Skrlac, Jelle asked about the display.
“Are they for sale?” he asked. “I think (Jose) wants to buy one.”
Once informed about the fund-raiser, though, the family quickly got into the spirit, filling out ballots and paying their toonies to make a vote on their favourites.
It put a smile on the face of Skrlac, who had noted this year’s entries and votes were the lowest in the five years of the event.
Bras for a Cause appears to have been superseded by the Victor’s Secret Pageant, a wildly popular event hosted each January by Cheryl Verbrugge in which local men don the decorated bras in another fundraiser. But that pageant is dependent upon the bras decorated and entered into Bras for a Cause.
There are still several days to enter your own creation in the contest, or to vote on a favourite during OrcaFest Saturday in downtown Port McNeill. Just stop by The Flower Shoppe or call 250-956-4955.