Babes4Breasts fall campaign seeks to raise $25,000 for Head Start program at the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre

Babes4Breasts (B4B) announced today the launch of the 2014 Babes4Breasts Benefit Concert and lead up campaign!

For the first time, the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre (OICC) and Babes4Breasts have come together to launch a new and innovative Babes4Breasts Head Start Program for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The program will start at the OICC in the new year with funding from Babes4Breasts.

** Giving Women the Best “Head Start” ** The Babes4Breasts Head Start Program run by the OICC will help women when first diagnosed, providing tools, empowerment and a support network on their journey. Improved quality of life, reduced side effects, anxiety and depression, increased stamina, and better overall health outcomes will be explored through weekly workshops with OICC therapists.  The program will enable women to be their best advocates, as they learn about the role of nutrition, natural health products, exercise, mind body techniques, stress management, and lifestyle modifications.

** 8th Annual Babes4Breasts Benefit Concert and CD Release **

The beloved concert will be held on

Thursday, October 23rd at 8:00 pm (doors open at

 7:30 pm

) at Southminster United Church.  It will feature an incredible roster of musicians, with some of the best of folk and roots music in Canada including Juno Award and CFMA nominated Amanda Rheaume, CFMA nominated Jadea Kelly, Scarlett Jane, Coco Love Alcorn, Ana Miura, and Laura Cortese, the first American musician to grace the Babes stages.

The benefit concert also marks the release of B4B’s fourth compilation album, featuring a roster of 16 outstanding Canadian artists including Order of Canada member, Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee and Juno Award winner Bruce Cockburn in addition to Trent Severn, Mo Kenney, Sweet Albi and many more. 100% of the album proceeds go to breast cancer related charities.

** Bottoms Up for Babes4Breasts at The Royal Oak – Warm Up Campaign Begins Today! **

After raising over $19,000 in 2013, as a lead up to this year’s Babes4Breasts benefit concert, B4B’s strong partnership with Beau’s Brewery, The Royal Oak and Boom 99.7, will run from

October 6 to 19. “Bottoms up for Babes4Breasts at The Royal Oak” will see all Royal Oak pub locations donating $0.25 from each pint and $0.75 from each 60 oz jug of Beau’s sold to Babes4Breasts.  In addition, Beau’s Brewery will generously donate 30% from every keg sold to the Royal Oak, with Boom supporting and promoting via the airwaves.

All Royal Oak locations will also have concert tickets as well as 2014 compilation albums for sale during the “Bottoms up for Babes4Breasts at The Royal Oak” drive. A kick off party for the concert will be held at Royal Oak Wellington (1217 Wellington Street) on October 16 between 7-9 pm where artists will perform and mingle with pub patrons. Beau’s beer sampling along with complementary appetizers will be served.

Jonathan Hatchell Chief Executive Officer of The Royal Oak Pub Group, said, “we continue to see the devastating impact of cancer on our family, colleagues and friends and are determined to continue to help in any way that can bring an end to this terrible disease. Being involved with Babes4Breasts last year only reinforced our belief that if we all consolidate our efforts to provide the resources, our professional health care partners, such as the OICC, will be better positioned to help those living with cancer and those striving to prevent it. So we are doubly committed this year to make “Bottoms Up for Babes4Breasts at the Royal Oak our premier pub fund raiser of the year!”

“The Beau’s Family has been impacted deeply by breast cancer with the sad loss of close friends”, said Chris Sheppard of Beau’s Brewery.  “We will continue to be affected until a cure is found.  Beau’s is privileged to be a part of this program again this year with Babes4Breasts and The Royal Oak. We hope to raise funds and awareness to help protect and comfort our friends, family and each other, from the effects of this debilitating disease.”

The campaign will serve to warm up the community for this year’s benefit concert.

For more information where to purchase tickets and albums, please head to: www.babes4breasts.com

** About Babes4Breasts **

Babes4Breasts (B4B) ** ** is a group of like-minded Canadian recording artists who have come together to fight breast cancer through music.  Our mission is to use the power of music to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer prevention, education, and support via conventional and integrative strategies, by way of a community-based approach.  Since 2007, B4B has donated over $100,000 to a variety of breast cancer related charities.

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** About the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre **

The Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre (OICC) is the first integrative cancer care and research centre in Central and Eastern Canada.  As a not-for-profit, regional centre of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, the OICC welcomes patients at any cancer stage as well as those wishing to prevent cancer or its recurrence.  The Centre works with patients and physicians, to provide therapeutic programs that decrease side effects and promote health and improve quality of life during and after conventional treatment.  Through clinical practice, research and education, the OICC strives to assess and reduce possible causes of cancer while exploring innovative integrative treatment approaches.  For more information, please visit www.oicc.ca