This Sunday, a pink army of negligée-clad walkers and breast cancer awareness advocates will take part in the inaugural American Cancer Society (ACS) Key Largo Bridge Bra Walk. The three-mile “pub crawl” will start at Gilbert’s Resort, cross the bridge to Blackwater Siren as a turnaround point, and end back at Gilbert’s.
Registration includes an event T-shirt/tank, a free mimosa at Blackwater Siren, and a free “boobie” drink at Gilbert’s. The boobie cocktail is Gilbert’s No. 1 selling drink and was put on the menu specifically to support breast cancer awareness, said Suzi Youngberg, the ACS community manager for the Florida Keys. “It’s a delicious, frozen, pink drink concoction and $1 comes back to ACS year-round. We’ve been getting around $10,000 a year from them and they’ve been doing it for 5 years.”
A former general manager at Gilbert’s lost a sister to breast cancer and wanted to do something to give back. The drink became his legacy, and even when he left the resort, the owners decided to continue offering the drink with its donation to ACS.
“Now, it’s a Gilbert’s tradition,” Youngberg said. “Gilbert’s has been a staunch supporter of breast cancer awareness ever since, and they are excited to host the Bridge Bra Walk as a presenting sponsor.”
While this is the first bra walk for Key Largo, the events are not new to the Keys. The tradition started in Key West nine years ago and expanded to Marathon eight years ago. All the bra walks in the Keys are part of ACS’ “Making Strides Against Cancer” Campaign, said Youngberg. “In October, all the money we raise in the campaign is earmarked for breast cancer research and to help those in treatment,” she says.
Last year, the Key West and Marathon walks raised around $60,000 for breast cancer research and support services. This year, Youngberg and her team have set a fundraising goal of $70,000 for all the “Making Strides” bra walks. With the Key Largo and Marathon walks still to go, they’ve already raised almost $60,000.
Youngberg is most excited to see the sea of pink bras crossing the Gilbert’s bridge. “I think it’s going to be beautiful, and we’re going to spread so much awareness. I think it’s going to be our most visible walk.”
One-hundred percent of the $35 registration fee goes to the fight against breast cancer.
Ways to Register:
- Friday, Oct. 18, in person 4 to 7 p.m. Pre-Registration Party at Cirque Salon in Key Largo.
- Saturday, Oct. 19, in person 1 to 5 p.m. at Zero Dress Code in Islamorada.
- Online: makingstrideswalk.org/floridakeysfl.
- Before the event on Sunday. Walk starts at 8 a.m.
