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Castlegar lingerie boutique raising breast cancer awareness

An area lingerie boutique is celebrating women’s wellness this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
8944783_web1_171019-CAN-M-Undercover-Secrets
Undercover Secrets is holding its October Pink Event on Friday, Oct. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The event is about women’s health and offers an opportunity to learn more about the services Undercover Secrets offers for women who are pre or post-mastectomy or who are going to or have undergone other chest-related surgeries. (Courtesy of Undercover Secrets)

CASTLEGAR — A local lingerie boutique is celebrating women’s wellness this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

On Friday, Oct. 27, Undercover Secrets is holding an October Pink Event to not only raise money for breast cancer awareness but to raise awareness of their post-mastectomy services.

“We do mastectomy fittings. We’re the only certified fitters in the Kootenays and there’s four of us that are certified,” says Carol Hiebert, owner of Undercover Secrets.

Hiebert has been a certified fitter for the past 18 years, and the woman who certified her is also planning to attend the October Pink Event. She is a representative of Amoena, a company that provides breast symmetry products, including those sold at Undercover Secrets.

The store also provides fittings for women who have had different types of surgery or who will be having surgery in the future.

“Even if you haven’t had a mastectomy, [if] you’ve had a lumpectomy or you’re going for augmentation or you’re going for reconstruction, you’re going for reduction — we do it all,” says Hiebert.

During a pre or post-surgery fitting at Undercover Secrets, customers are shown to a private room — used only for these types of fittings — where they are fitted for a prosthetic.

“After you’ve had surgery, you come in as soon as you’re ready to touch the incision and all the rest of it. You come in and you get fit for a prosthetic and bras, just to make sure your bras fit properly, and your prosthetic will fit properly,” says Hiebert.

Undercover Secrets has helped many women with mastectomy fittings over the years — Hiebert has two filing cabinet drawers full of clients records. In fact, Undercover Secrets keeps all of its clients sizing information on file.

“So no one has to remember anything,” says Randi Rye, Hiebert’s right-hand person.

Customer records also include wish lists, so that partners or loved ones wanting to purchase a gift can not only find out what you like but be sure of buying the correct size. They also gift wrap.

“If you want your husband to get you something because you saw it in the store and you want it, put it on your Christmas wish list,” says Hiebert.

But she and Rye also emphasize that everything that happens in Undercover Secrets is strictly confidential.

“What goes on in here, stays in here,” says Hiebert.

For every bra sold at Undercover Secrets on Oct. 27, $1 will be donated toward breast cancer awareness.

“And one of the girls who works here is going to match whatever we donate that day,” says Hiebert. “And she is actually out there saying that she is challenging other businesses to do the same.”

The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and there will be different vendors in the store, doing giveaways and sharing information about their services.

The vendors include REST Assured Kootenay Floats, Silver Birch Clinic, Boulevard Hair & Wig Salon, Chantel Fullerton from JK Apparel, Shoppers Drug Mart, Young Living Essential Oils by Rena and a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant.

There will also be plenty of prizes.

The first 100 women through the door will receive a special water pearl bracelet and there’s an entry for an aquamarine and ruby 10-carat gold ring, valued at $500, with every purchase.

The door prizes also include gift baskets with goodies donated by local businesses.

EZ Rock will be on location from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Castlegar News will also be stopping by.