Pose in Your Bra for Breast Cancer Awareness

Women from all over North Jersey will be gathering at Floods Hill in South Orange on Saturday, Oct. 1, to show their “support,” literally, for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The “Undress for Success” initiative is the idea of Lori Dalvi, who is the Team Captain for SOMA Gals, one of the top fund-raising teams for the 2011 Komen North Jersey Race for the Cure.

Wearing only white bras, women will gather on Floods Hill—and more are welcome—to make a bold public statement that breast cancer “awareness” just isn’t enough. According to the Facebook page dedicated to the effort, "They want their message to be loud and clear: Less talk, more action. NOW is the time to take action. Do something. Get a mammogram. Get involved. Make a difference. And urge your mother, your daughter, your grandmother—all the women in your life—to do the same." Men are also invited to participate wearing white tank tops.

The event will be captured on film by professional photographer Elizabeth Fleming of Maplewood, who is donating her services for the “Undress for Success” project.

The signed, limited edition photographs will be done in black and white with all of the bras tinted pink (participating men will be in light blue tank tops). Prints will be available for purchase at $25 for an 8.5” x 11” and $40 for an 11” x 14”. All proceeds from the sale of the prints will benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure North Jersey Affiliate.

“My inspiration for the idea came from wanting to do something different. Something that would garner a lot of attention,” says Dalvi.

“We’re hoping to get hundreds of women to join in this project, women who want to be part of getting a powerful message out that being aware of breast cancer issues isn’t enough. We talk a lot about early detection being key to survival, but we hope that “Undress for Success” will get women to take action, and do it now.”

To get involved:

All women and men are invited to participate. Participants must be at least 18 years old and will be required to sign a waiver at the event. Meeting time is 9 a.m.; the photo shoot will begin at 10 a.m. Floods Hills is adjacent to Meadowland Park, just down Ridgewood Road from South Orange Middle School and the Duck Pond.

FAQs

Why do I need to wear a WHITE bra?

The final photographs will be in black and white with all the bras tinted pink. If everyone wears a white bra, it will be easier to “turn everyone’s bra pink” and produce the final photograph.

Who can participate?

Any woman (over the age of 18) is invited to participate, as long as she is willing to wear a white bra for the photograph. All participants will be asked to sign a waiver on the morning of the photo.

Will I be able to get a copy of the photo?

YES! The final photographs will be in black and white with all the bras tinted pink—the professionally finished, signed, limited-edition photos will be available for sale. The photos will be available 8” x 11" for $25 and 11" x 14" for $40 including shipping; the net proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure North Jersey Affiliate.

To participate or find out more, email undressforsuccess@komennorthjersey.org or visit www.komennorthjersey.org.