October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Terry Levine, co-owner of clair de lune lingerie boutique in Overland Park, wants breast cancer survivors to know about the First Bra Foundation.
Founded by Levine earlier this year, the First Bra Foundation provides a free high-quality bra of a survivor’s choice along with a personalized fitting experience.
“We really wanted to come up with something where it wasn’t just, ‘Let’s raise money, and give it to research,’” Levine said. “The whole concept behind First Bra is to directly reach that woman who has been affected by breast cancer.
“We say to her, ‘OK, you’ve gone through something here. When you’re ready, come in, and we want to give you your first bra. You’re body has changed. And that bra is a milestone in the journey of going through breast cancer and surviving it and getting back to being a normal person again.”
First Bra medical partners include St. Luke’s East Hospital and Clinics and the University of Kansas Cancer Center, which have integrated First Bra into their patient support services programs.
“While chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are part of the process, we take time to address the emotional issues breast cancer patients experience as well,” said Dr. Ruby Meierotto, lead breast radiologist at St. Luke’s East Breast Center, in a release. “That is why we are so excited about First Bra, and our patients we’ve talked with share that enthusiasm. The gift of a high-end designer bra is like a wonderful reward for getting through treatment.”
First Bra works with several area lingerie stores that fulfill requests for post-treatment bra selections and fittings, which can be obtained with a nontransferable certificate of support available at firstbra.org. Each certificate includes the participating merchant’s name and a convenient location to visit for a survivor’s fitting and free bra. Those wishing to donate to First Bra are also invited to visit the website.
Levine and clair de lune were featured on the April 2014 cover of Thinking Bigger Business magazine.
