Camisole Project for breast-cancer victims

A Burlington retailer has found a way to link an intimate piece of women’s lingerie to the fight against breast cancer.

The Camisole Project fundraiser to benefit women having surgery for breast cancer took place Friday, Oct. 12 at the Holiday Inn, Burlington.

The event had its genesis when Burlington retailer Barb Daize of BodyMed Boutique discovered a specialty camisole to give women comfort after breast-cancer surgery, and so she set out to make sure it would be worn by those in need, for free.

“I want to help women feel as comfortable and as dignified as possible through this difficult time,” said the nurse-turned-retailer.

After a lumpectomy or mastectomy, often tubes branch out from armpits into small containers to drain bodily fluids. They can remain in place for days and weeks.

Typically patients use safety pins to ease the awkwardness of the equipment.

Daize has seen her friends, family and patients suffer through such difficult times.

So she set to work on finding a solution. Through her store, she found two camisole manufacturers that have inserted removable drain pockets to provide protection and comfort at this critical time in a woman’s recovery.

She says she is determined to outfit every single woman who undergoes breast-cancer surgery at Burlington’s Joseph Brant Hospital — about 150 each year — with one of these specialty camisoles, which cost $70 each wholesale and fit women from size extra small to 3X.

Daize kicked off the program at the start of the year, with $800 raised through a holiday fundraiser at her Mount Forest Drive store in north Burlington.

She has distributed gift certificates through three local surgeons’ offices and is hoping news of the free garment spreads so that she can help as many women as possible.

“Our fundraising efforts will continue throughout the year, so all affected women can take advantage of this special gift,” added Daize.

The fundraiser event had a Hollywood glamour theme and the dinner was Marche style. Highlights of the evening included live music, food, a silent auction, psychic readings, prizes, games, customized cocktails and desserts.

Tickets were $65 and each ticket purchased bought a post surgical camisole for a woman having surgery for breast cancer.

Website – divaschanginglives.com.