Lexington, KY - When Whitney Praska noticed a lump in her breast in 2004, it didn't really occur to her that it could actually be cancer. She was 24 years old at the time, with no genetic history of breast cancer. Though a doctor had previously located a fibrocystic mass in her breast, that doesn't necessarily imply an increased risk for cancer.
"It didn't faze me," she said. "I was still going through school, just living my life as if nothing was happening to me."
Results soon revealed that Praska actually had three lumps, however, one of which tested atypical. At that point, Praska chose to be "as aggressive as possible," undergoing a bilateral mastectomy that revealed that the atypical lump was indeed cancerous, and had gotten in her lymph nodes.
It was a wake up call, to say the very least, and since then, Praska, who underwent chemotherapy and radiation last year, has been devoting much of her time and energy to "creating a body where cancer cannot live." Her approach to that has been holistic, from filtering all the water that comes in her house, to upping her raw vegetable consumption for maximum enzyme intake, to buying locally and organic whenever possible. Thinking about the potential effects that environmental factors could have on her body completely scared her, Praska said. "It kind of got really complicated," she said. "You have to pull yourself out - you can't get sucked into how crazy it can get. You still have to enjoy life."
"Creating a body where cancer cannot live" marks the theme to this year's Boobalooza, a cancer awareness fundraiser event founded by Praska and her friend Niah Soult in 2008. Last year, the event focused on early detection and raised over $6,000 for cancer research, much of it from a signature silent art auction.
The primary mission of Boobalooza is to spread life-saving awareness. In deciding what to name the event last year, the founders took into consideration the fact that they simply could not meet their outreach goals under the assumption that it is a faux pax to speak openly about our bodies.
"Cancer is an extremely serious matter, taking lives daily, but we cannot remain 'hush-hush' on such topics just to respect someone's comfort level," Soult said. "What is at stake is far more important than some rosy cheeks of embarrassment."
BOOBALOOZA 2009
In addition to a special focus on wellness living - with information from cancer survivors, local farmers, clean water advocates and community gardeners - the event will feature live music, food, children's activities, a hulahoop contest, a raffle and a silent art auction (featuring art from Seth Tuska, Jim Embry, Adele White, Paula Zaglul and many other local artists).
When: 1 - 5 p.m., May 30
Where: Kitchen Concepts, 112 Mt. Tabor Rd. (in Pieratt's Shopping Center, behind Lee's Famous Recipe)
Cost: Free.
How you can help: The ultimate goal of the event is outreach and education, so just by attending and soaking up the available information, you will be helping the founders of Boobalooza reach their goal. Boobalooza is still accepting donations from artists until May 15 (for the art auction) as well as donations from sponsors (for the raffle). All proceeds from the art auction will benefit the Lexington chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Donations can be dropped off at Kitchen Concepts.
After Party: "Scratch & Rhyme for a Cure" at Lower 48 in Victorian Square (401 W Main St.). The event will feature pink drink specials, breast cancer merchandise for sale, and music by US Band, Emily and JK-47 from the Dialectics, with Special Guest Big Dog. Admission is $5 or $3 for all who wear pink, with proceeds benefiting Susan G. Komen. 9 p.m. - 2:30 a.m.
For more information on the event, how to help, and guidelines for donating art, please visit www.boobalooza.org or e-mail Niah Soult at colormywalls@gmail.com.
THE BENEFACTOR: Susan G. Komen
Boobalooza has made a practice of donating the proceeds raised by the event to a reputable source known for their advances in finding a cure for cancer. The benefactor of this year's event is the Lexington affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Susan G. Komen lost her battle with breast cancer in the '80s, and it was her sister's promise to continue her legacy by becoming an advocate to help keep others from losing their sisters, mothers, wives and friends to the disease. Today, it's the largest grassroots cancer organization in the world, according to Carl Gilford, Missions Director for the Lexington affiliate. "I'm inspired to hear Whitney and Niah's story, because that's where a lot of our roots come from," Gilford said. "This is a really great story of survival."
With affiliates in over 125 cities, 75 percent of the money raised from the individual Susan G. Komen chapters remains within the community - the Lexington affiliate provides research grants to the Markey Cancer Center, for example.
Gilford said that Komen Lexington is honored to be a financial benefactor for the event, but that their main incentive with Boobalooza is to raise awareness, not money. "Beyond any dollars that we could raise, if we can spread awareness to other people so that it increases the survival rate, then we've done what we've set out to do."