October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Wrapsody is hosting its 2nd Annual "Hope Floats" Campaign in conjuction. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that nearly 200,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed among United States women in 2009, according to a website dedicated to the cause. Wrapsody created their "Hope Floats Campaign" to be a part of the fight to cure breast cancer.

Vera Bradley has a foundation for breast cancer and a one-day special in October each year. They always encourage their carriers to get involved so Merri Logan, a manager at Wrapsody, brought up the "Hope Floats" idea to owners Sarah Brown and Terri Shea last year. The 2009 campaign donated half the funds to the Vera Bradley Foundation, but this year they are donating locally because it is more tangible for the community, according to Brown.

"Wrapsody is just very passionate about helping out the community," said Kadie Crowell, a manager at Wrapsody and event coordinator for 'Hope Floats.' "We're just so excited to be able to help out because we see how many people are affected [by breast cancer]."

Throughout the month of October, Wrapsody is asking for $2 donations toward "Hope Floats." Wrapsody will give each donator a tag and a balloon. Donators can write "sentiments of hope" or the name of someone they know on the tag. A special step Wrapsody takes is to display the tags in their store window so the community can see and unite with them in the cause.

Wrapsody is keeping the money they raise local by giving it the East Alabama Medical Foundation (EAMF). EAMF has several causes for which it receives money, but Wrapsody's donations will go towards the division of the foundation that provides free mammograms to those whose insurance won't cover them. EAMF also uses the money donated to educate the surrounding community about breast cancer.

"They provide educational classes ... they work with women throughout their entire process of going through breast cancer," said Crowell.

Wrapsody ends the campaign with a special event. All tags are tied to the balloons and released into the air to celebrate hope and the lives of survivors of breast cancer. This year, the balloon release is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 22, during downtown Auburn's Friday Night Block Party. The release party is from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Wrapsody will release the balloons at 5 p.m.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women and the ACS stated more than 40,000 women died from the disease in 2009. Wrapsody's Hope Floats Campaign is an active community effort to lower the number.

"Christopher Reeve said something that we find fitting for our cause," said Brown. "'Once you choose hope, anything is possible.'"

 

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