Local business donates 1,000 kits to event

MONTROSE  — A national program, along with the aspirations of a local business owner, is providing participants in Saturday’s Bosom Buddies “One Step Closer to Help and Hope”  with one more tool to help prevent breast cancer.

Cindy Gavin, owner of Curves in Montrose, has donated 1,000 Liv Aids, a device that assists in breast self-exams, to Saturday’s event.

“I believe it is a very good diagnostic tool,” Gavin said. “I’ve always been a supporter of Bosom Buddies ... I wanted to do something this year that is geared toward everyone getting the benefit.”

Bosom Buddies is a local breast cancer support group. For the past 15 years, it has hosted the weekend event, consisting of a silent auction and walk/run, that raises money for local breast cancer patients. A Liv Aid is included in each participants bag they receive during check-in Saturday morning.

Liv Aid is a heart-shaped medical device that when used, amplifies any lumps, bumps or changes in the breast tissue. By reducing the friction between the fingers and the breast, it is easier to find the little things, helping with early detection, according to www.liv.com.

The device is part of a program created by Olivia Newton John and Curves founder Diane Heavin. Their organization, BHS International, is promoting the device nationwide as a way to raise awareness about early detection.

Gavin is demonstrating how it works using sugar Saturday at 8 a.m. before the event. She will be under the “survivor tent.”

“I’m buzzed about the participation and the new and fresh ideas, and help,” said Francie Smiles, a Bosom Buddies board member. “This is still a big thing. I did find out ... in the United States, one in eight women will get breast cancer. In Colorado, it is one in seven.”

Saturday’s event will also have a flyby by the local Victor Squad, Smiles said. The Victor Squad will flyby after the National Anthem in a “missing man formation” to honor those whose fight with breast cancer has ended.

The weekend events start Friday night at the Holiday Inn Express with a silent auction from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday’s 5/10K walk/run starts at 9 a.m. at the Montrose Pavilion. Registration is at 8 a.m. However, Smiles encourages people to preregister so they can receive a T-shirt. Registration forms are available at Montrose Memorial Hospital’s Web site, www.montrosehospital.com, by calling Smiles at 252-2814 or visiting the Bosom Buddies’ office at 645 S. Fifth St.

Contact Kati O’Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com