Titz'n Glitz: The Story Behind the Extravagant Party

By Christina Fisher

Last Updated: Nov 7, 2006
Articles & News : Articles : Community Focus

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Titz'n Glitz began as a community of friends, neighbours, and people they love supporting those diagnosed with breast cancer. The emotions that are attached to Titz'n Glitz are as varied as the reaction to the name that was chosen during a small house party in 1995 by Margo Kerr. The name remained and the party grew to a yearly event that now has 1000 women attending to Party with a Purpose!

All funds raised through Titz'n Glitz go to our primary project Halifax On The Front Line Society (breast cancer fund).

Some of the most stressful realities are of a financial nature including incidental costs. Items such as childcare while going through treatment, drugs not covered by insurance, groceries, taxi fare or a mortgage payment are just a few of the ways that Titz'n Glitz helps. Halifax On The Front Line Society is available to both men and women across the province of Nova Scotia and is intended to help relieve some of the pressure of an already stressful situation and foster the healing process.

This fund provides much needed short term financial assistance and can be accessed through the Department of Social Work at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax as well as at each Capital Health Authority throughout Nova Scotia. We are very proud to have developed and implemented this program with the help of social workers, nurse navigators and oncology nurses. Titz'n Glitz Does Not Fund Research.

Todate, Titz'n Glitz has raised over $600,000 for survivors in need. There are various fundraising initiatives such as our Bra Buster Program and Toonies for Ta Ta's Tuesday that all lead up to the grand finale, our Titz'n Glitz Mardi Bra Event.

There were many like minded men and women who wanted to put forth their bra bustin spirit by getting involved in their community to create fundraisers and bring money to Halifax On The Front Line Society, which is how  the Bra Buster Awards were born. Individuals, teams or groups who came up with new and creative ideas to raise money in their community for Titz'n Glitz could compete for our Bra Buster award on event night. This created a lot of community spirit while raising much needed funds for breast cancer survivors in financial need.

Can You Help?
Toonies for Ta Ta's Tuesday began in 2005 to huge success! Our motto became "You Fill Our Jug and We'll Fill Theirs." This new campaign has resulted in corporations, schools, community and other groups coming together to collect Toonies in the name of Titz'n Glitz! Some groups choose to collect for the entire month of October while others joined the costumed clad men and women collecting Toonies around the city on Toonies for Ta Ta's Tuesday.

These fundraising programs all lead up to the annual Titz�n Glitz Mardi Bra Event. Titz'n Glitz has evolved into a powerful breast cancer fundraiser, celebrating those who have fought the disease and won, those who are fighting the fight, and for those who fought and didn�t make it. The evening is a roller coaster ride of fun, emotion, art and camaraderie that encompasses everything from cocktails, eats and girl chat, to a parade of costumes, and moving personal stories. Don't expect the usual because, like its name, Titz'n Glitz is anything but!

The continuance and growth of this event is a testament to the power of a small group of caring Halifax women who made a positive difference for breast cancer survivors and their loved ones...its outcome has caused ripple effects well beyond the event itself.

Please see our website www.titznglitz.com.

Have comments about this article? We'd love to hear from you. Please email us at abcn@abcn.ca!