Breast cancer survivors and patients will model work-of-art bras to be auctioned off on April 1 at the Downtown Airport, providing services to uninsured and underinsured cancer patients (see box for details).
Linda Weinberg-Hammer is the longest cancer survivor who will be one of the models. She was diagnosed with cancer exactly 16 years ago to the day that she will be proudly walking the runway for Bra Couture KC.
“Sharon Payne who started this is a remarkable woman,” she said. “Fifteen hundred people were there last year and they raised $246,000.”
Weinberg-Hammer discovered Bra Couture four years ago at Missy’s Boutique when she saw a bra with boxing gloves on it and inquired about it.
She was told it was for Art Bra (Bra Couture’s previous name) and would be auctioned off with other bras and pieces of art to benefit cancer patients. She knew immediately she had to be a part of this organization.
For the past three years she and her daughters and granddaughters have catered appetizers and cupcakes for the Bra Couture KC event, and will do the same this year.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s for such a wonderful cause,” she said.
About the annual fashion show and auction Weinberg-Hammer said, “It’s an emotional evening, but it’s so beautiful. The other women are so great and hearing their stories brings a lot back to me.”
She said being the longest survivor to walk the runway is a good incentive for the other women, giving them hope. Plus it has made her realize the effect cancer had on her life.
“I think it’s made me a stronger woman; it just opened my eyes and made me kind of wake up,” she said. “But it’s such a shock to hear the word cancer; it’s probably the most devastating thing you can ever hear.”
Weinberg-Hammer credits not only a mammogram for saving her life, but her son-in-law, Dr. David Karty. There were complications during her lumpectomy and removal of lymph nodes. Her blood pressure drastically dropped to nothing. She said they learned later she had lost 70 percent of her blood.
“I’m lucky to be here. My doctor did not come to the hospital and did not know what to do,” she said as she described her experience. “My son-in-law is a doctor and he was on the phone with them and told (the surgeon) what to do, what was going on and to find out what was happening. It was a terrible experience, especially for my family. I was ‘gone.’ ”
After she recovered from surgery, she had 37 radiation treatments.
“It’s amazing how that kind of changes your life,” she continued. “It just makes you stronger and appreciate more every day of your life. I learned a lot and my message to women would be always to get a second opinion and always have an advocate with you.”
Weinberg-Hammer doesn’t know that she would have been able to accomplish the things she has in the past 16 years if she had not had the experience of simultaneously battling breast cancer and going through a divorce after 32 years of marriage. She said she was fortunate to have the support of her two daughters, her son-in-law and three granddaughters to help her through the ordeal.
“I feel so lucky because I’m so close with the girls and the grandchildren,” she said. “My whole thing in life is let my daughters see you can change life all the time and you can do whatever you think you want to do. I did Dancing with the Stars at Beth Shalom a few years back. My life has been really wonderful; I’m really blessed being here.”
Weinberg-Hammer is an active member of Congregation Beth Shalom.
She has been on two 60-mile breast cancer walks — 15 and 14 years ago. A total of $12,000 was raised on these walks. She said it takes three days, sleeping in tents at night.
“You have to really train; I trained a whole year for it. It was the most inspiring thing I’ve ever done in my life. Walking with these women and listening to them talk, telling their stories and everybody supporting each other. And I thought if anyone can find a cure, women can because we are strong. There were thousands of people walking. It was unbelievable,” she said.
Since being cancer-free, Weinberg-Hammer has opened three businesses: a landscape company called Up to Date in Kansas City, which she still owns (she does the designing); a singles group that she ran for eight years for people 50 to 70 years of age; and she also has the catering business.
She’s also an artist and two years ago took up boxing.
She said in the past few weeks she has learned of four Jewish women diagnosed with breast cancer. Several people in the Jewish community have participated and/or supported the cause in the past, but Weinberg-Hammer would like to see more Jewish people involved in Bra Couture.
“I believe in giving back to those who helped me and help others who are dealing with this dreadful disease,” she said. “I am so thrilled to be nominated to walk the runway being the longest survivor this year.”
Weinberg-Hammer said she just wants women to have their yearly mammograms, get a second opinion and make sure an advocate is with them when they see their doctor or have diagnostic tests.
Bra Couture KC
Bra Couture KC’s annual event auctions off eclectic work-of-art bras modeled by breast cancer survivors to celebrate their triumph over cancer. The 2016 event will be held on Friday, April 1, at the Signature Flight Support (TWA Museum — Downtown Airport), 10 Richards Road, Kansas City, MO.
The VIP experience is 6:15-7:45 p.m. Tickets are $250 and include:
• Meet the Bra Couture KC 2016 models
• Mingle with VIPs
• First view of artwork and bras
• Enjoy food by celebrity chefs
General admission Runway Show and Auction is from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $125.
Proceeds from the auction benefit eligible uninsured/underinsured cancer patients throughout the greater Kansas City area.
