A while back, my colleague Alice posted a short blurb introducing an organization called ArtBra KC. Despite her knack for journalism, you may have completely forgotten about the write-up had it not been for the image that accompanied the text.
Sporting Kansas City center back Matt Besler was quite the fashion statement in the locker room following the team's training session on April 16th and Al was able capture the scene on her handy dandy iPhone. Besler was modeling a women’s brassiere, as teammate Jimmy Nielsen added his signature to the twenty-seven others already inscribed, for good reason of course.
Have you ever heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words?” Well, in this case the picture was worth $1,700. Let me explain. ArtBra KC is a unique and fun art auction that celebrates the bra as an empowering symbol of triumph over breast cancer, and as a work-of-art that can benefit those breast cancer patients just beginning, or still on, the journey.
Seventy work-of-Art Bras were auctioned to benefit the Missys’ Boutique Patients in Need Fund and the Sporting Kansas City bra was one of 24 that was chosen for display at Halls in the weeks leading up to the event. The Sporting KC bra was designed by Cindy Wittman, who is a breast cancer survivor herself. Wittman is the aunt of Sporting KC midfielder Michael Thomas. Both Thomas and Besler attended the event, which was held on May 4th at The Midland by AMC.
The boys escorted the model of Wittman’s bra down the runway and it caused quite the stir, raising $1,700 in the auction and ranking among the top three! Wittman is already discussing the possibilities ahead, as she told our Community Relations Director recently, "We will do another next year with a new design, so count me in for another bra and signing!"
Over 600 individuals attended the event, and the final amount of money raised is still being calculated. Whatever that number may be, the rave reviews from Besler and Thomas assured us the event was a colossal success. Check out the album below to see for yourself!
