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Women bare their bras to show support

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Denise Harris (right), owner of Heaven Essence Candle Spa Parties, stands proudly with her bra on the outside of her shirt along with consultants of her company in honor of breast cancer awareness at her factory in Waynesville, Tuesday evening, October 6, 2009. Harris has lost two siblings to cancer and now sells all natural skin products ideal for cancer patients.

Photo by Jessica Uttinger Denise Harris (right), owner of Heaven Essence Candle Spa Parties, stands proudly with her bra on the outside of her shirt along with consultants of her company in honor of breast cancer awareness at her factory in Waynesville, Tuesday evening, October 6, 2009. Harris has lost two siblings to cancer and now sells all natural skin products ideal for cancer patients.

By Marie Rossiter, Staff Writer Updated 12:35 PM Wednesday, October 7, 2009

WAYNESVILLE — Women bared their bras in Waynesville to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Entrepreneur Denise Harris hosted a ‘Bra Bash’ Tuesday, Oct. 6, where she invited customers and consultants of Heaven Essence, a self-produced line of soy-based lotions, candles and relaxation products, to her Waynesville Day Spa. The hitch: they had to come wearing bras on the outside of their clothes to donate them to the American Cancer Society.

“This group is about having fun,” Harris said, pointing to a roomful of people wearing bras of every size, shape and color. “We wanted to do something to honor the month, so I figured, why not?”

Although cancer is serious business to Harris — who said she lost a sister and brother to cancer and had another sister diagnosed with bone cancer last year — that didn’t stop her from finding a light-hearted way to recognize breast cancer awareness month.

The bash was held before the consultants’ monthly sales meeting. For the month of October, all of Harris’ consultants are donating a portion of their sales proceeds to cancer research. Harris also is offering any cancer patient a 50 percent discount at her day spa, located at 7600 Ohio 48, Building C, in Waynesville.

Harris said her products can help cancer patients’ skin irritation caused by radiation treatments.

“Because of my sister, we found out by accident how the products help ease the burning in the skin that comes from treatment,” Harris said. “We’re hoping to take this to hospitals and doctors in the area so patients can experience its benefits.”

The event collected both cash and bras for the American Cancer Society. The bras, said Harris, would be donated to women who have had partial mastectomies.

For information on Heaven Essence, visit www.heavenessence.com.

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