Story & Photos by Jessica Boyer / KHTS

The Soroptimists of the Santa Clarita Valley held their 10th Annual Bras for a Cause event, “Bras on Broadway” in Valencia on Sunday.

“We’re here today to put on Soroptimist International’s 10th Annual Santa Clarita Bras for a Cause Event,” said Kathy Rutherford, vice president of Santa Clarita’s Soroptimist International.  “We are raising money to help two local charities, one is Circle of Hope and the other is Sheila R. Veloz Breast Imaging Center.”

The event was held at Tournament Players Club (TPC) where many Santa Clarita Valley residents came to enjoy food, beverages and beautiful bras.

“Circle of Hope provides financial, emotional and educational support to breast cancer survivors and also for preventative care,” Rutherford said. “Sheila R. Veloz provides free mammograms to economically challenged women.  Both organizations are local and they’re just wonderful.”

Not only were there handmade bras on auction, several local businesses and organizations came to the event to help with the fundraising.

“We have been getting together for the past ten years to put on this event and it’s so much fun to decorate the bras together and it’s for a great cause,” Rutherford said.

Three locals spoke at the event, two of which are cancer survivors.

“Lisa Lewis, spoke on behalf of Circle of Hope,” she said. “She is six year breast cancer survivor and is an active advocate for Circle of Hope, trying to spread awareness and raise funds.  Oma Timberlake is a five year breast cancer survivor who spoke on behalf of the Sheila R. Veloz Imaging Center and she’s a really inspirational and dedicated lady. Jessie Wescot is a local comedian and is new to Santa Clarita, she saw our promotional ads and auditioned. She’s just hilarious.”

All of the proceeds from the event go to programs dedicated to helping women survive breast cancer.

“The money goes to Circle of Hope, Sheila R. Veloz Imaging Center, and various Soroptimist programs,” she said. “We have the SEW programs, Soroptimist Empowering Women. We provide comfort bags to ladies at Shelia, like little throw blankets, notebooks and sometimes we do room redos for single moms around the holidays.”

Over the past 10 years, we have raised more than $200,000, she said. “Last year we provided a $10,000 check to Sheila R. Veloz for a new breast imaging machine and we hope to continue helping people be cancer free.”