Thousands of runners, walkers, cyclists, breast cancer survivors and supporters gathered at Dockweiler State Beach on Sunday, August 30, for the 14th annual BRA Run LA, bringing a sea of pink to the Playa del Rey coastline in support of breast reconstruction awareness.
The annual event featured a 5K run and walk, 13K run, 14-mile bike ride, costume contest, and family-friendly activities, bringing the community together for a morning that combined movement, celebration, and a mission that extends beyond the finish line.
BRA stands for Breast Reconstruction Awareness, and behind the miles logged and colorful costumes is an effort to raise awareness of the financial barriers some breast cancer survivors face when pursuing reconstruction.
Sponsored by Torrance Memorial Medical Center, BRA Run LA was created by Torrance Memorial breast nurse navigator and breast cancer survivor Evelyn Calip. After experiencing breast cancer herself and seeing other women struggle to afford breast reconstruction surgery, Calip founded Evelyn’s Breast Friends Forever (BFF) in 2013, a nonprofit that provides breast reconstruction grants to uninsured and underinsured women.
“Our mission at Evelyn’s BFF is uniting women and families with breast cancer,” Calip told the Daily Breeze. “I want to bring awareness to the community about the realities of breast cancer and breast reconstruction.”
For Calip, the annual event is also deeply personal.
“The BRA run every year is the celebration of my cancer survivorship,” she said, “and also for women who need to celebrate their own survivorship.”
Among those joining this year’s 5K was Derek Warburton, publisher of the Los Angeles Inquisitor, who took part in support of the event and its mission. Dr. Michael K. Newman, board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Forever Breast, was also on hand in support of BRA Run LA and its work to bring greater awareness to breast reconstruction.
Their participation reflected the broader community surrounding the event, which brought survivors, families, healthcare professionals and supporters together around an issue that can continue long after breast cancer treatment itself.
For uninsured and underinsured women in particular, the cost of reconstruction can become another hurdle in an already difficult journey. Evelyn’s BFF works to help address that barrier by providing grants toward breast reconstruction, while the annual BRA Run gives the issue a highly visible platform in the Los Angeles community.
