“Bra-cu-la” bra provides spooky Halloween atmosphere, Bra-ha-ha annual event

Samantha Radford, Editor-in-Chief • October 10, 2023

MRS. VAN VEENHUYZEN and her National Art Honor Society (NAHS) students participate, as they do every year, in the annual Bra-ha-ha Awards Show and Auction on Friday, October 13. As NAHS was tasked with making a bra based on a pun, the idea of making a Dracula-inspired bra came “alive”.

The Bracula Bra was based on Tod Brownings’s interpretation of Dracula. “We chose Dracula because we wanted to evoke the beauty and power of vampires,” Veenhuyzen said. (Courtesy of Van Veenhuyzen)

Art teacher Mrs. Van Veenhuyzen and her National Art Honor Society (NAHS) students participate in the annual Bra-Ha-Ha event once again to shine a light on and give their support to Breast Cancer Awareness this month.

The Bra-Ha-Ha Organization is a fundraising experience sponsored by the Chesapeake Regional Health Foundation where members of the community use a 38-C size bra as their canvas to draw awareness on breast cancer prevention through creating a unique and inspirational bra.

These bras are due on Friday, October 6, and will then be presented at the annual Bra-ha-ha Awards Show and Auction on Friday, October 13, from 6-7 PM at the Delta Hotels by Marriott in Chesapeake, Virginia.

After the Auction and Award Show, the bras will be displayed at the Lynnhaven Mall Center Court on Saturday, October 28, to celebrate survivors of Breast Cancer and their supporters. Then the money made will be sent to the Chesapeake General Hospital for improved breast healthcare and provide free mammograms to those in need in the Hampton Roads community.

For this year’s Bra-ha-ha event, Van Veenhuyzen, and her NAHS students were tasked with making a bra based on a pun. As the theme for this year is Dracula, NAHS decided to call their bra “Bracula”.

“Every year I look forward to the Bra-ha-ha event and are always amazed with what kids come up with,” Van Veenhuyzen said. “NAHS is always looking for community opportunities to show our support through art.”

As to the creation of this bra, NAHS decided to base it on Tod Browning’s interpretation of Dracula;” A frightening yet captivating tale about creatures in the night.”

According to Veenhuyzen, she noted that although most vampires are men, they decided to touch on the more feminine interpretation to represent that the survivors of Breast Cancer are also strong, beautiful, and powerful.

Bra-ha-ha also includes many other inspiring events including the Bra-ha-ha 5k Run/Walk, a week-long bra art exhibit, and third-party philanthropy events. Also, not only are CHS and schools in Chesapeake involved in this event, but the general public is also able to be involved.

“In hard times art can serve as an escape from life and a medium for expression, everyone should partake in some form of the arts,” NAHS and Advanced Art III sophomore Nox Leon said.