Bellwether Community Credit Union Sponsors Breast Cancer Awareness Event, Manchester NH

Manchester, NH, September 02, 2010 --(PR.com)-- “The scar on her chest, like any other scar, is just a memory of where she has been and what lessons she has learned,” explains Erin Cunningham as she recalls her mother’s breast cancer fight. Madeline Anderson, whose partner Beth was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, remembers the wonderful help they received, “Without supportive employers who allowed flexible hours, friends who stopped by with dinner or offered dog-sitting it would have been difficult to stay strong and keep fighting.”

Bellwether Community Credit Union employees like Cunningham and Anderson are encouraged to share stories of how breast cancer has touched their lives in support of the upcoming Bras Across the River Event. Bellwether Community Credit Union is proud to be a sponsor of this one-of-a-kind street festival that was established to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. Donated bras will be stretched all the way across the river on Saturday, September 11th on the Bridge Street Bridge in Manchester in a powerful statement about the illness.

“When breast cancer strikes it turns many lives upside down. It is a time of tremendous uncertainty and upheaval in many aspects of their lives,” explains Michael A. L'Ecuyer, President and CEO of Bellwether Community Credit Union. “Together, we can support our family members, friends, neighbors and members of our community in their daily lives in the littlest ways to make a difference in their fight against this disease.”

Cunningham’s mother is now cancer free. Unfortunately, Anderson’s partner’s fight against breast cancer continues. “Hanging bras on a bridge across a river may seem like a strange way to help fight breast cancer, but it increases awareness, gets people talking about something that not everyone is comfortable talking about, brings the community together for a common cause, and represents all of us standing together to fight a disease that truly does impact us all,” explains Anderson.

Bellwether Community Credit Union will be hosting the event’s Children’s Area which will feature games, prizes and a wall display where festival-goers can leave their pink handprint in honor and support of those who are or have battled breast cancer. Bellwether will also have an additional booth near the center court stage where they will be offering chair massages, giveaways and a chance to win an overflowing gift basket of Breast Cancer Pink items.

About Bellwether Community Credit Union
Bellwether Community Credit Union, located in Manchester and Nashua, NH is a not-for-profit financial institution open to anyone who lives or works in NH. For more information about Bellwether Community Credit Union, visit BCCU.org.

About Bras Across the River
The Bras Across the River Event will host a variety of food and entertainment vendors and the New Hampshire Institute of Art’s annual sidewalk art festival where over one hundred fifty area artists will have their work on display.

Admission is $10 and a bra, and every attendee will receive a $5 certificate to T-Bones/Cactus Jack’s. All proceeds from the event go directly to the NH Breast Cancer Coalition, Elliot Breast Health Center, American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen foundation. For more information about the Bras Across the River Event go to: wzid.com.

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