Loretto Hospital, along with the Illinois Department of Public Health’s “Ticket for a Cure” and the Rotary Club of Chicago, presented a free bra-fitting, called “Support that Inspires,” last Saturday at the Columbus Park Refectory, 5701 W. Jackson Blvd.

The event offered an opportunity for women to be properly fitted for bras and, while they were at it, receive free mammogram testing. Free bras, ranging in cost from $35 to $50, were also given away.

Camille Y. Lilly, vice president of External Affairs for Loretto Hospital, said the event was part of a continuing effort to inform the women of Austin about breast cancer and help reduce breast cancer diseases in the Austin community and throughout the Chicago area. She was assisted by Loretto’s Glenda Bridges.

In addition to serving the ladies lunch, several booths were set up to distribute information concerning breast cancer. Folders were handed out with information on understanding breast changes, explaining mammograms, and the need for testing.

Rotary Club representative Nasutsa Mabwa was on hand with her partner Sam Zabadne, passing out literature and gift bags. “We are celebrating 20 years of women in Rotary,” Mabwa said. “We wanted to do an event in the community that helps women. We’ve donated $5,000 to Loretto Hospital for the stabilizing of events to make sure that African-American women are tested for breast cancer. We have tried to come in as a financial partner for the hospital who has put this event on today.”

Bridges, the program coordinator at Loretto Hospital, said, “On some of our evaluation forms from other events, women have stated what they needed was proper bra fittings. So we got together with some of the other partners; Rotary, Chicago Park District and the Department of Public Health and scheduled a breast cancer awareness and proper bra fitting [event].”

For more information on upcoming events or more information on breast cancer screening, contact Loretto Hospital, 645 S. Central Ave., 773/854-5671/5864, or their P.R. representative, Monique Caradine Kitchens, 708/720-4252.