Women’s Center brings back the annual Bra Project

The Boise State University Women’s Center will present The Bra Project on Oct. 26 in the Art Source Gallery, located at 1015 West Main Street. The event promotes breast cancer awareness and funds for organizations fighting breast cancer.
The Bra Project serves as a fundraiser that began in Boise four years ago in the Woman of Steel Gallery.

Artists from Boise and abroad create their own unique version of a bra and donate their work to fighting
breast cancer.

After three years of hosting this event, the Women’s Center will break new ground by donating money to an individual with breast cancer. In the past, donations went to St. Luke’s Mobile Mammogram Unit and Breast Cancer Action, an organization in San Francisco. 

This year, the Women’s Center decided to give the donations to Maria Torres, a single mother fighting breast cancer. 
According to Torres, she knew of the Women’s Center’s involvement with breast cancer organizations, but was “shocked and amazed” to learn that she was chosen as the recipient of the funds raised by this year’s Bra Project.  
“It never crossed my mind that [the Women’s Center] would help someone with cancer,” Torres said. 

According to Torres, after being diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer in Nov. 2006, her family has been struggling. 
“Emotionally, it’s been hard,” Torres said. “I haven’t worked since December 2006.” 

The majority of her family lives in Texas, so she has had to be strong for her children.

“I have a lot of faith in God,” Torres said. “I believe that He’s not letting it happen, but it’s a lesson. I’m learning a lot about people.” 

Torres said even though she lost her friends when she was diagnosed, she “gained a family in the church and the Cancer Society.” 

“I’m 46 and proud,” Torres said. “I started living at 40!”
Torres has children in college, a son in middle school and a young foster daughter. She is a volunteer translator for the police department and an avid seamstress. Three years ago, she donated outfits to Mexican folklore dancers in Caldwell. She hopes to be a speaker for Hispanics and the Cancer Society in the future.

“There are a lot of people that don’t speak English and they’re afraid to ask,” Torres said. “[Hispanic women] need to be more aware [of breast cancer].”

According to Torres, Hispanic women are not aware of the services provided for breast cancer.
“They are afraid of rejection because they don’t have money and they think they’re going to have to pay a lot of money,” Torres said.

According to Torres, she is one of the first people raising awareness for breast cancer in the Hispanic community.
“I have already convinced three [Hispanic women] I know to get mammograms,” Torres said. “People say that cancer doesn’t hurt, that’s a lie. It does hurt. It doesn’t matter how small the pain, you never know.”

Maria’s daughter, Maria D. Torres, is supporting the fundraiser with her sorority sisters of Boise State’s Delta Beta Nu by modeling the wearable bras in a live auction.  

Bras from the Bra Project will be posted on the Women’s Center’s Website at www.womenscenter.boisestate.edu.
Tickets for the Bra Project cost $12, $10  with a student identification card.

JESSICA HENDERSON
Arbiter Staff

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