Symbolized by the pink ribbon, the international symbol for breast cancer awareness, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The movement has gone from having contributors pledge money to participants in numerous walks to having Major League Baseball, the National Football League and the National Hockey League raise money by auctioning off game-used pink gloves, bats, cleats, hockey sticks and wristbands. Perhaps the most novel approach has been Adelphi University’s two-year old Creative Cups program. Co-founded by alumna Beth Tenser and graphic design professor Dale Flashner, the clever project petitions participants to use bras as a foundation and use their creative whimsy to craft works of art from these undergarments, which will later be auctioned off at a gala in the spring. Between the $25 entrance fee and funds raised when these unique pieces are sold off next year, all the proceeds go to Adelphi University’s Cancer Hotline and Support Program. Tenser and Professor Flashner both get an A-plus for coming up with such a capricious way to raise awareness to fight this insidious disease.
– Dave Gil de Rubio
