Local Bras on Dudes fundraiser nets $35,000 for cancer aid

BOD North Idaho's 14th annual Bras on Dudes event, held Jan. 8 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, raised $35,000 for the Cancer Care Northwest Foundation, organizers announced Monday. The proceeds will remain in North Idaho to help patients from Moscow to Sandpoint and from St. Maries to Post Falls cover costs insurance does not, such as gas to appointments, lodging near hospitals, groceries when income stops and utility bills.

Cancer Care Northwest Foundation President Brandie Binfield described the program's typical support. "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."

The event drew more than 200 attendees and showcased local fundraising muscle. Scott "Scotty" Hankins, a Coeur d'Alene business owner and tattoo artist honored as the 2025 Dude of the Year, raised more than $5,000 for the foundation. Organizers credited volunteer labor and the affordability and assistance of the Kootenai County Fairgrounds for keeping overhead low and maximizing what goes directly to patient aid.

The $35,000 haul falls about $10,000 short of the event's all-time high of $45,000 set in 2021, but it still represents a tangible injection of relief into communities where treatment often requires long drives and overnight stays. At the foundation's standard award level, $35,000 could fund the $500 assistance cap for as many as 70 patients, with the foundation reserving flexibility to provide larger grants when warranted.

For Kootenai County residents coping with cancer, those dollars translate into fewer missed appointments, warmer homes while undergoing treatment and reduced stress for families balancing medical and living expenses. The event also reinforces a local safety net: donors, volunteers and venue partners pooling resources so help stays regional and responsive to residents' needs.

Bras on Dudes has become as much community theater as charity, but its practical outcomes are straightforward. Our two cents? Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities and small fundraising drives in your neighborhood—every dollar raised here tends to be a short drive from where it will be spent, helping a neighbor get through the next round of treatment.