LONDON: As the beauty and fashion industry lead the pink charge for this year’s breast cancer awareness month, one US-based social enterprise has proven that not everything needs to change color to generate awareness.
This month Brides Against Breast Cancer (BABC) is donating 200 designer wedding dresses to brides in need.
The dresses – which usually sell for up to $2,000 – can be selected from the BABC online store after the bride-to-be has shared their story of why they need the help.
The only cost to the brides is the price of packaging and shipping. The campaign will be donating $100,000 worth of designer wedding dresses throughout the month.
BABC operates as an online store throughout the year, with a flagship retail shop based in Atlanta and national dress tour events around the country to generate funds from sales for breast cancer research.
The designer wedding dresses sold by BABC are donated by brides and bridal salons nationwide. The brands include Maggie Sottero, Casablanca and Vera Wang.
The designer wedding dresses sell for between $99 – $1,999 – or up to 80 percent off retail.
Since 1997, BABC has helped raise millions of dollars for breast cancer initiatives through the sale of more than 50,000 wedding dresses.
BABC’S CEO Drew Edwards said in a press statement: “We are pleased to help women in financial need for their wedding day while also raising awareness of breast cancer.”
Breast cancer awareness month is a global health movement that has grown to become one of the most highly anticipated annual events internationally.
The annual campaign aims to raise awareness of early breast cancer detection as well as to fundraise for essential life-saving research into the disease.
Brides against breast cancer initiative makes weddings even more special
Brides against breast cancer initiative makes weddings even more special
Where We Are Going Today: Orenda Coffee Hub in Dhahran
- The Hasawi cookie was the highlight of my visit, and definitely something I would order again
In search of a hot beverage that you can hold like a hug for your hand as the winter weather cools? Try Orenda in Dhahran.
According to Dictionary.com, Orenda is defined as “an invisible magic power believed by the Iroquois people of North America to pervade all natural objects as a spiritual energy.”
While geographically far away from the land in which the word originated, the cafe has plenty of inspiration from local and global lands.
Their Hasawi cookies—caked with dates and a tiny bit of nuts and cardamom tucked within to give it texture and an elevated taste of neighboring Al-Ahsa—goes for SR 12. This was the highlight of my visit and I would definitely order again.
I tried it with a satisfying SR 16 cappuccino in a ceramic mug. Soft jazz played on the day of our visit. Plenty of natural light bathed the space with the giant windows and many people were typing on their laptops or scrolling on their phones in silence.
It has a perfectly quiet, perhaps even an orenda atmosphere.
While the weather is still pleasant, you can find many options for outdoor seating. There’s also an upstairs section, up a fun, winding green spiral staircase. Though no elevator was in sight, the bottom floor interior seems wide enough for a wheelchair.
If you do find yourself wandering up the second floor, you’ll find even more seating with an even cozier feel with decor reminiscent of a warm home.
Restrooms are situated on the next and final floor, up even more steps.
A prayer area can be found on the third floor too, along with a massive glass door leading into an outdoor space with tables and chairs aplenty.
Opened eight months ago, it remains the first and only branch in the Kingdom.
Because it seemed very popular, I ordered an iced Orenda matcha for the road, at SR 24. It was decent.
It is open from 6 a.m. until midnight daily, aside from Thursdays and Fridays when it closes at 1 a.m.
Follow them on @orendacoffee.sa.
