Bras for Body and Soul

Cheryl Maloney and I (Tricia McMahon) created Bras for Body & Soul in 1995 as a way to walk with women through a difficult life challenge: breast cancer.  Without delay, we realized that the majority of women, including but not limited to women facing breast cancer, need and desire bras that truly offer support, comfort, i.e. health and well-being.  Seven years of growing Bras for Body &  Soul and responding to these particular needs as best we could, has been a blessing to me as the certified bra fitter, and to Cheryl in her role as the public relations/marketing expert.

As of January 1, 2003, the HERS Breast Cancer Foundation (which was founded in 1998) is carrying on the service and care for women in this way because Bras for Body & Soul is first and foremost a service for women and women’s health.  As a program of HERS, Bras for Body & Soul enunciates and further fulfills the Mission of the Foundation:

The HERS Breast Cancer Foundation provides education and support services for girls, women and their families to promote their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Mission of Bras for Body & Soul

As an earned income program of the HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, Bras for Body & Soul fosters the integrity and dignity of women by providing quality products and services, along with breast health awareness/education, to girls and women, including women facing breast cancer.

As we envision the potential for this evolution in women’s health care, we see the possibility of creating a new and innovative model that can replicated across the country.  In this way, the HERS Breast Cancer Foundation will be making an even greater impact on community and culture.

Our Philosophy

We contribute to the empowerment of women and their health by providing:

• Personal fittings for bras and/or prosthesis, by appointment

• Advocacy for health insurance benefits

• Educational seminars for women about bras, fittings, breast health

• Experiential workshops for women who have had breast surgery

• Educational seminars for health professionals re: healthy breasts, bras, prostheses...

• Monthly evenings of reflection for breast cancer survivors

• Threads of Hope Breast Cancer Quilt Project for breast cancer survivors and those who care about them

We call this work "body & soul" because our intent is for each woman to experience the comfort she desires as well as the integrity she deserves. Such dignity and respect is centuries overdue.

Bras, breasts, body, sexuality....these are realities and concepts that we don't easily talk about in our culture except to exploit on billboards, on TV and in magazines. Our society has yet to respectfully embrace and share about the inherent beauty of women, our bodies, of women's breasts, in a way that is positive and nurturing. Both the service and the products of Bras for Body & Soul are so vital and so popular at this time in history because we dare to bring femininity, integrity and dignity to the body of women, especially their breasts. Therefore, Bras for Body & Soul is not a medical supply house nor is it a shopping mall lingerie store. Rather, it is a unique service meeting the needs of this very important facet of each woman's body and health. And, now, it is a meaningful response to the rapidly growing incidence of breast cancer and the diverse needs of women survivors.

The success of our work is evident when a client says: "I can breathe better," or "I am standing up straighter, or "I feel lighter," after a fitting. In some cases a woman even reconsiders breast reduction surgery. Clients have discovered that a proper fit greatly enhances how they feel physically as well as how they feel about themselves, and naturally enhances how they look.

Health Insurance Advocates

We help women to understand their insurance benefits. Some clients say they would rather pay for everything themselves than be hassled with their insurance. But to us that defeats the whole purpose of having insurance coverage so together we pursue the client's benefits. We feel strongly about not letting the insurance industry intimidate anyone. Unfortunately, some insurance companies do not provide adequate coverage of post-mastectomy bras and prostheses. Worse yet, some will only reimburse a medical supply house; not a specialty bra company even though this customized service is the best way to insure a proper fitting. Women are then hindered from going where they choose and securing the quality of fitting and the quality of experience that they deserve. Our efforts with insurance companies have been highly successful thus far but there is still much work to be done. We work hard as an advocate for our clients rights as well as educating the insurance agents about the unique needs of women.