Bras on Dudes brings in $35K for local people battling cancer

COEUR d'ALENE — Dudes strutting the runway in themed attire and decorated bras made for a great night of fundraising in support of a local cause.

BOD North Idaho's 14th Bras on Dudes event raked in $35,000 for the nonprofit Cancer Care Northwest Foundation, organizers announced Monday.

"This is for all cancer," Cancer Care Northwest Foundation President Brandie Binfield said.

The money raised stays in North Idaho, helping patients from Moscow to Sandpoint and from St. Maries to Post Falls pay for what insurance doesn’t during a battle with cancer. Things like gas money for getting to appointments, hotel stays when needing to be in or near the hospital, groceries to feed families when income stops, and utility bills to keep the heat and lights on.

"Anything they are struggling with," Binfield said. "We give up to $500 per cancer patient. Sometimes we’ll go beyond that depending on the situation."

Although it wasn't a record year for Bras on Dudes, the 2025 event drew more than 200 people and raised just $10,000 less than the 2021 all-time high of $45,000.

“Before that, we were raising like $18,000 or $20,000 a year," Binfield said. "After that, it’s been pretty consistent between $30,000 and 45,000."

Colorful sequins, a reflective safety vest, a little chainmail and a lot of moving, grooving and good vibes set the tone for the Oct. 3 evening in the Jacklin Building at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. It's the second time the Bras on Dudes fundraiser has taken place at the fairgrounds, which has been an ideal setting for the event.

"I truly think that is the right space for us," BOD North Idaho co-founder Holly Hansen said. "It was awesome. I think it was our best one yet, in my opinion."

Cancer Care Northwest Foundation board member and Bras on Dudes committee member Jenna Ahearn praised the fairgrounds for helping with the setup and breakdown and affordability of the venue.

"The building transforms," she said. "They're awesome, and that made a big difference."

With all the imagination, excitement and personality the participating Dudes inject into their runway performances clad in their hand-decorated bras and themed accessories, Binfield said it's hard to pick a favorite.

"We've been working with these Dudes for so many years," she said. "We have a lot of returning dudes. We had two new dudes this year and they were a great complement."

The 2025 Dude of the Year was Scott "Scotty" Hankins, a Coeur d'Alene business owner and tattoo artist. His efforts raised more than $5,000 for the event.

"He did amazing," Binfield said. "He brought in so much money."

Binfield and Ahearn have been helping Hanson with Bras on Dudes for about 12 years. 

“We actually became a part of Cancer Care Northwest Foundation because of this event,” she said. “This event introduced us to this great organization.”

Hansen said the key to a successful event is not trying to reinvent the wheel.

"It all went so well with our volunteers and the way we have our volunteers structured," she said. "This year was amazing. Can we just copy and paste and do that again?"

Info: bodnorthidaho.org

    Scott Hankins, 2025 Bras on Dudes Dude of the Year, wears a chainmail headpiece as he walks the runway Oct. 3 during the 14th Bras on Dudes at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
  

    From left, BOD North Idaho co-founder Holly Hansen, with fellow Bras on Dudes organizers Brandie Binfield and Jenna Ahearn, display a Bras on Dudes check Monday afternoon that will go from the Windermere Foundation to the Cancer Care Northwest Foundation. The organizers were happy to announce that the 2025 Bras on Dudes event brought in $35,000 for the Cancer Care Northwest Foundation.