With Oktoberfest comes beer and brats. But for the past two years, it has also brought along bras and a lot of them.

Again in 2008, Majestic Pines Casino, Bingo and Hotel and Z93 WIZM-FM teamed up to put Oktoberbreast into action, collecting gently used bras from throughout the community to raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer.

With help from residents from all over the Coulee Region, an overwhelming 2,000 bras were collected in support of the Oktoberbreast mission. For each bra collected, a monetary donation was given by Majestic Pines Casino and Z93 through the charity fund, ZCare. This year with 2,000 bras collected, the total monetary gift reached $7,000.

Each year the donations are presented to area hospitals in an attempt to assist in fighting this disease. This year, the funds were split between, Black River Memorial Hospital, Tomah Memorial Hospital, Franciscan Skemp Center for Breast Cancer and the Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast Care at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center. These funds will be used towards continuing breast cancer research and also for programs and educational services that help with prevention and early detection of breast cancer.

“The response received through community participation was overwhelming again this year,” said Rhonda Anderson, marketing director at Majestic Pines Casino. “We are very excited to be donating this money to our local hospitals. Early detection can make a huge difference in somebody’s life. If this money can be used to help even a handful women understand the importance of mammograms and self examinations, then the money has been well spent.”

Last year, the proceeds raised were donated to the Franciscan Skemp Center for Breast Cancer and the Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast Care at Gundersen Lutheran, both located in La Crosse. Beyond the monetary donation, all the bras that were collected will be given to local shelters in the area.

Ho-Chunk Nation owns and operates Ho-Chunk Casino, Bingo, Hotel and Convention Center on Baraboo; Dejope Gaming in Madison; Rainbow Casino in Nekoosa; Whitetail Crossing in Tomah; and Majestic Pines Casino, Bingo and Hotel in Black River Falls. For more information, visit www.ho-chunk.com.