Bras and Bros on Broadway May Not Continue

Hotel Donaldson owner Karen Stoker says in the last eleven years, Bras on Broadway raised a million dollars to help breast cancer in North Dakota and Northern Minnesota.

Every year, artists and businesses help string up colorful bras all across the Hodo for this event.

In a quest to bring awareness to breast cancer in the region, a sight like this hardly fails.

But now, the annual tradition might not continue.

The Hodo in downtown Fargo says they’re no longer hosting Bras and Bros on Broadway.

Now they’re hoping to pass down the torch, saying they can no longer host this community tradition.

Stoker says in an email statement, “Bras and Bros On Broadway has simply outgrown The Hotel Donaldson’s capacity. Over the coming year, we’ll be working with community leaders to see how a new rendition may continue our region’s tradition of helping our neighbors.”

We asked breast cancer survivors and other community members what they think about this change.

Kawar Farok of Fargo says, “We have a great community here in Fargo–Moorhead, and I think there definitely should be somebody out there, or people out there, or an organization that would want to take this over.”

For some, the discussion branches beyond women’s health.

MSUM graduate Anna Rae says, “While benefiting women’s health, I think it also is a feminist action to talk about women’s bodies, and the clothing that women wear. Bras are often very secretive and hush hush.”

For Katie Meyer, this event means much more than just the art.

“I feel like it would be a huge loss for the community to not have it anymore, it raises awareness and I feel like that’s the most important part,” Meyer says.

Katie’s mom Pat Anderson survived breast cancer 14 years ago.

We gave her a call.

She told us it would be terrible if these events came to a stop.

“She still has her mother today because of early detection and awareness of breast cancer. And Bras on Broadway is one of the things that make people do these things,” Anderson says.

We reached out to Hodo staff but they don’t want to make a comment at this time, saying all the information is in the emailed announcement.

Despite there being no current plans to continue Bras and Bros on Broadway, you can still make contributions to their cause.

Karen Stoker says you can contribute by visiting brasonbroadway.com and brosonbroadway.com