By Gabrielle Terrett

The Vicksburg Post

The 9th annual Bras Across the Bridge event will be held at the Old Vicksburg Bridge at 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday.

Bras Across the Bridge is an event sponsored by Riverwalk Casino and is typically held in Vicksburg.

The event is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and was created as a way to bring the community together while informing the city about breast cancer said Mary Beth Wilkes senior marketing director for Riverwalk Casino.

“Our general manager came up with the idea nine years ago as a way to involve the community and fundraise for breast cancer awareness and it just ran from there,” said Wilkes. “It is a way for the community to be involved in breast cancer awareness month because October is breast cancer awareness month, so with our event people can donate funds for cancer research or cancer treatment.”

The event will begin with a walk across the Old Vicksburg Bridge and a viewing of the bras at 9 a.m. Later, a check presentation to the American Cancer Society will be held at 10 a.m. at the bridge.

“One of the rare opportunities people get is to walk across the Old Vicksburg Bridge much less be on it,” said Wilkes. “Because how many chances do you get to be on the Old Bridge? Not many! This is a great way to bring our community together for a good cause while showing the historic bridge as well.”

The event typically collects over 5,000 bras but there is never anyway of telling how many the organization may receive. Participants in the event have the opportunity to make more than one donation to the American Cancer Society by donating bras to the Riverwalk Casino to be hung on the Old Vicksburg Bridge.

“All of the bras are donated, and can be dropped off,” said Wilkes. “The easiest drop off place would be at Riverwalk Casino or even the day of the walk you can donate,” said Wilkes. “We will accept each bra and for all of them we will donate $1 to the American Cancer Society.”

The event has primarily been held in Vicksburg but in the past was once held in Jackson.

“We’ve held it in Jackson one year,” said Wilkes. “But primarily it has been held in Vicksburg because this is where we started the event.”

Hundreds of people have come out to participate in the viewing of the bridge to commemorate deceased loved ones or to show homage to breast cancer survivors. Others come to support a great cause.

“It is a great way to bring the community together,” said Wilkes. “It shows how so many people have been affected by breast cancer someway.”

Bras Across the Bridge is held yearly at the Old Vicksburg Bridge and has become a tradition for not only Riverwalk Casino and breast cancer survivors but it has also been a means for the community to support the individuals who experience the deadly disease.

“This event brings people together for a good cause,” said Wilkes. “We have people from all over who want to help and that is always a great thing because it shows that our community wants to promote a great cause.”