Shirley Reitmeier just doesn't quit. No sooner had this year's West Polk County Relay for Life ended when the breast cancer survivor with the “Shirley's Angels” team began planning for the next one. A side project she started at Relay, collecting “Bras for a Cause” to create a wall hanging, is also gathering momentum. Now, she's combining the two for a special event on Sept. 25, “Shirley's BRAdway Show.”
“I wanted to do something fun that also raises awareness and funds for cancer,” she said. “Some friends and I came up with the idea, a play on words, and ran with it.”
The evening will begin at 7 p.m. at the Northland Inn with social hour. Hors d'oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. Reneé Wall Rongen will serve as the program emcee, with a comedy show, “Big Divas, Big Laughs, Big Fun” at 8:30 p.m. The show features three Twin Cities stand-up comedians, Jodie Maruska, Rox Tarrant and Brenda Elsagher. Elsagher, a colon cancer survivor, will have copies of her books "If the Battle is Over, Why am I Still in Uniform?" “I'd Like to Buy a Bowel Please” and “Bedpan Banter” on hand and autograph them. Pat Erickson from Fertile will also be taking photographs of those who wish to purchase them.
Tickets for the event are $25 per person and will be for sale starting Tuesday, Sept. 1. A limited number are available, so it's best to get them early. They can be purchased at RiverView Gift Shop, Eagle Drug, Montague’s Flower Shop or by calling Lori Ingeman at (218) 281-7907.
“I'd like to make a second annual show, but we'll see how this goes, first,” said Reitmeier.
The money raised at the BRAdway Show will go into her team's Relay fund-raising pot for next year, she said. Team members are also selling pink and black drink huggers from the American Cancer Society that slightly resemble a woman's torso and say “Big or Small Let's Save Them All!” The huggers are available for $8, with proceeds also going to Relay.
“This means the funds raised will go to help all cancer patients in our area, not just those with breast cancer,” Reitmeier said.
Those who bring in a bra donation for the wall hanging along with their ticket to the show will be entered into a drawing, she added.
Shirley's Angels started collecting bras at the Relay in June and currently has about 350 of them in various sizes, colors, patterns and styles, said Reitmeier. She hopes to have from 500 to 800 by the time they hook them together to form streamers to hang down the side of the Eagle Drug building in commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month for two weeks starting in mid-October.
RiverView Health is one of the sponsors for the display and show, with the theme “Real Men Wear Pink,” she said.
“Men do get breast cancer, too, though not as often as women,” said Reitmeier. “Men need to be aware that they're at risk, too. A male friend who's a breast cancer survivor is scheduled to speak at the show.”
Those wishing to donate a bra or two, or 10, can do so at drop-off boxes f at Eagles Drug and Rejuv Hair Salon in Crookston, or by calling Reitmeier at (218) 289-5608.
