The annual event to raise awareness of breast reconstruction is back and this time, will be held at a new venue.
The 8th annual BRAs of the Bay event, presented by Plastic Surgery & Skin Specialists by BayCare Clinic, will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, at the Resch Expo, 840 Armed Forces Drive, Ashwaubenon.
The event seeks to close the loop on breast cancer and raise awareness about breast reconstruction rights for breast cancer patients. BRA stands for breast reconstruction awareness.
Federal law mandates coverage of breast reconstruction for breast cancer patients, even if the reconstruction is delayed until after treatment for cancer. It’s a law that many aren’t familiar with.
That’s why Plastic Surgery & Skin Specialists by BayCare Clinic is hosting BRAs of the Bay.
“This annual event is about awareness,” says Dr. Elizabeth A. O’Connor, a plastic surgeon with BayCare Clinic. “Patients need to be made aware of their rights under the law. Insurance must cover the cost of breast reconstruction surgery for breast cancer patients. Many patients are still unaware of this important fact. This event is simply an effort to help spread the word.”
BRAs of the Bay is part of a national effort to educate women about their rights under the law.
The Breast Reconstruction Awareness USA Campaign is dedicated to building awareness around breast reconstruction options. Its intent is to “educate, engage and empower women to make the decision that is best for them following a diagnosis with breast cancer. That involves informing women, family members, caregivers and the media that the breast cancer loop remains open until a woman is informed of breast reconstruction options.”
In a local effort to create awareness, the clinic has invited Green Bay-area businesses and individuals to decorate and display a bra in conjunction with National BRA Day, which is Wednesday, October 19.
Online voters will be encouraged to choose their favorite bra at baycare.net/BRAday. Voting takes place October 1 until midnight on October 12.
Tickets to BRAs of the Bay are $20 and donations are being collected to help support the cause.
Eighty percent of proceeds raised during the event will go to Ribbon of Hope, a non-profit organization that is a financial, informational and emotional resource for breast cancer patients in northeastern Wisconsin. Twenty percent will go to the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day USA organization.
The event will follow CDC-recommended guidelines related to COVID-19.
About BayCare Clinic
BayCare Clinic, baycare.net, is the largest physician-owned specialty-care clinic in northeastern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. BayCare Clinic offers expertise in more than 20 specialties, with more than 100 physicians serving in 16 area communities. BayCare Clinic is a joint partner in Aurora BayCare Medical Center, a 167-bed, full-service hospital. Follow BayCare Clinic on Facebook and Twitter.
