Photo of woman walking the runway in a Dalmatian style art bra.

Ashe Memorial Hospital to host High Country Bras fundraiser

JEFFERSON, N.C. — Ashe Memorial Hospital and the AMH Foundation will host High Country Bras, a fundraising event, on Saturday, April 12, at Jefferson Landing Club.

The event, which will be held from 6-9 p.m., is designed to promote the importance of breast cancer screenings while raising money for the Ashe Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Women in Touch Fund. Through the generosity of Ashe County donors, the Women in Touch Fund helps pay for screening mammograms for uninsured women who reside in Ashe County. Last year’s inaugural event event raised $18,430 for the Women in Touch Fund.

“The Women in Touch Fund takes the worry out of the equation for women who do not have health insurance and are unable to pay for their annual screening mammogram,” AMH Foundation director Becky Pearson said. “Thanks to the generosity of businesses and individuals in the community, we can provide mammograms free of charge for those who otherwise cannot afford this potentially lifesaving procedure.”

During the fundraising event, guests will enjoy dinner, an art bra fashion show and an auction. Tickets for the event are $75 a person or $800 to sponsor a table of eight and are available for purchase online at ashememorial.org or by calling 336-846-0785. The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, March 28.

As part of the event, the hospital is asking local artists, crafters, businesses, organizations and community members to create works of art using a bra as their canvas. Those interested in creating a bra may do so for a $20 donation. Artists are encouraged to use their creativity when making their masterpieces. The deadline for art bra submissions is Friday, April 4.

The bras will be displayed at Becky & Co. the week leading up to High Country Bras. The community will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite bras and the winners will be announced during the fundraiser. All entries will be entered into a raffle for two tickets to the event.

Breast cancer survivors will be modeling the decorative bras over a plain black dress or T-shirt during the fashion show portion of the event. The designs will be auctioned off with proceeds benefitting the Women in Touch Fund. If you’re interested in modeling and sharing your story, please contact the AMH Foundation at foundation@ashememorial.org.

Mammograms are among the most powerful breast cancer detection tools available, and over the past five years, Ashe Memorial Hospital has performed more than 12,000 mammograms for area residents. One in eight women in the United States are at risk for developing breast cancer; and in 2023, an estimated 297,790 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the most common cancer among women in the United States.

Every two minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with the disease. However, there is hope. When caught in its earliest, localized stages, the five-year survival rate is 99%. Using state-of-the-art 3D mammography equipment, patients can receive 3D mammograms, stereotactic breast biopsies and breast MRIs close to home.

“Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women,” Ashe Memorial Hospital chief nursing officer JoAnn Smith said. “When found early, breast cancer is easier to treat. That's why breast cancer screening is so important. At AMH, we want our community to obtain this screening. By providing the High Country Bras event, we hope to lessen the burden for women either by providing education or lessening the financial burden. By supporting us, through bra entries, attendance at the event or through monetary donations, you can help us to create a healthier tomorrow for others right here in Ashe County.”

For more information on High Country Bras and to RSVP, visit ashememorial.org or contact the AMH Foundation at 336-846-0785 or foundation@ashememorial.org.

About Ashe Memorial Hospital
For more than 80 years, Ashe Memorial Hospital’s dedicated team of board-certified physicians, nurses and staff members have provided the highest quality medical care available to the people of Ashe County and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Ashe Memorial Hospital offers a wide variety of emergency, elective, rehabilitation and preventative health services.

Founded in 1941, Ashe Memorial Hospital is a fully accredited 25 bed critical hospital located in Jefferson, N.C. For more information, please visit ashememorial.org or call 336-846-7101.