Athena's Cup Holds 2nd Annual Bra Run to Raise Awareness of Breast Cancer

More than 70 motorcycle riders showed up at the City Side Sunday to participate in the Athena’s Cup 2nd Annual Bra Run to give support to the fight against breast cancer while donating bras toward the Athena’s Cup charity.

Shelly Bernardini, a goddess for , hosted the event as a way to collect bras and donations for the Athena's Cup: a fundraiser for breast cancer which also aims to raise awareness of the disease by beating the World Record for the longest chain of bras.

The Woonsocket-based adult novelty shop has been collecting bras since 2009 and currently has around 69,000. The world record is 169,000.

Bernardini came up with the idea for a bike run last year with the help of her husband Todd.  

“It was something different.  My husband and I enjoy riding,” she said.

The pair thought it would be fun to have bikers decorate their motorcycles and award a prize for the best dressed ride. Five random people were picked to judge the bikes.

“It doesn’t matter how many bras,” the bikes have, Bernardini said.  The contest “encourages to be individual about how they will decorate it.”

The prize for the best dressed bike went to husband and wife, Larry and Pauline Charette, who went all out to dress their machine and both wore pink outfits. Larry topped it off with a pink wig, and even wore a bra.

“It’s a breast cancer awareness ride,” Larry said.  “I do just about every ride as possible… and it’s for a good cause.”

His wife Pauline discussed the importance of early detection through frequent mammograms and self-examinations. “It’s survival if you find it early enough,” Pauline said. 

Prize and fifty-fifty raffle tickets were sold at the event, along with merchandise from Athena’s Home Novelties and other local businesses such as Thirty-One, a handbag catalog company. Prizes ranged from goodie bags of merchandises to tickets and girl scout cookies.

Those who did not have a bike participated in the second half of the Sunday’s event in the Athena’s Cup Boudoir BINGO inside . 

“It’s to entertain people who don’t go on the bike ride,“ Jillian Allsop, Shelly’s friend and a volunteer at the event, said. Many of Allsop’s friends and family joined her on the bike run this year; some, for the second time but many for their first run.

“I got my gloves and I’m ready to have some wind in my face,” first time rider Donna Berard said.

Many of the riders participated because of personal connections to the disease. Husband and wife Clarence and Dianne Farrow lost a sister to cancer 18 years ago when she was just 26. 

“I’m definitely for it,” Clarence said of the cause and the hopes that somebody will find a cure.

Many of the participants heard about the event through biker's newsletters and magazines, including rider and Vietnam War Veteran, Dave Muir.  

“Anything I can do to help for breast cancer, I’m for,” Muir said, adding the he relates to survivors and understands the need for awareness and education. “I have an autistic son,” he said.  “It’s tough and it takes a lot of getting used to.”

While Muir and the rest of the bikers are out on the 70-mile ride through scenic routes in North Smithfield, Burrillville, and Glocestor, DJ Jimmy from Soundstream Disc Jockey and Karaoke Services along with his assistant Athena’s goddess Lorri Mowry hosted the Boudoir BINGO.

When the bikers returned, buffet services were provided by the City Side with music by The Northeast Groove.  

“[Breast Cancer] affects everyone,” Bernardini said of her reasons for organizing the fundraiser. “It takes your spirit at the same time.”

“Athena's is all about empowering and educating,” Bernardini added.  "It’s all about survival.”

The amount raised from the event has not been announced but Bernardini said that she hoped to raise around $2,000.