The Laura Hartenbaum Breast Cancer Foundation has thus far raised more than $350,000 for breast cancer research, education and preventive care and this year, the Hartenbaum family and board members have decided to add a new twist to the fundraising effort.
In addition to the fall fundraising event which features a well known cancer specialist, this year, beautifully painted butterflies, decorated by local artists and those who knew Laura or who have been touched by breast cancer, will be shown in local shops in Westport and Weston to generate interest and anticipation for the event, which will be called "Fly to a Cure!"
TD Bank, at 185 Main Street, on Tuesday hosted a wine and cheese reception to encourage local merchants to display the beautiful butterflies in their windows this fall. The week before the October event, Max's Art Supplies will display all 50 butterflies in its windows.
This year, the annual Legacy for Hope fundraiser will be a dinner held Oct. 15 at Rolling Hills Country Club. The guest speaker will be Dr. Haifan Lin, Director of the Yale Stem Cell Center, who will speak about the role of stem cells in the treatment of breast and prostate cancers. Men are encouraged to attend as well as women.
According to Cecile Newberg, a silent auction held at the event will feature the 50 unique butterflty creations, which have been hand-painted, decorated or otherwise embellished by area artists. She said the idea for the butterflies was modeled after a very successful Westport fundraising effort known as the birdhouse auction, in which local artists have created unique and whimsical birdhouses to benefit Project Return, a local home for troubled young girls.
"It's astounding," said Newberg. "We gave our artists no parameters. The butterflies are all different, and all remarkable. One was even created by a 7-year-old girl who did one in honor of her mother."
The butterflies are 12" by 13" on a 6" by 7" base. They can be viewed on the Legacy for Hope website at www.legacyforhope.org/butterflies.
Major recipients of funds from the foundation have included Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where Laura received her breast cancer treatment, and the The Smilow Breast Cancer Center in Norwalk.
Information about the foundation and the upcoming event can also be obtained on www.legacyforhope.org, or interested parties can call Cecile Newberg at 203 454-3915.