LANSING - Breast cancer and domestic violence are two things that can be extremely difficult to speak about...especially if you or someone you know has experienced it. But because of an artistic event that the Women's Center of Greater Lansing has organized for the community, it gives women hope and provides them with a light at the end of the tunnel.

The "In Her Cups Bras for a Cause Art Auction" is a decorative bra event where anyone in the community can show off their creativity skills and develop a bra with pizzazz to be auctioned off.

"It's an opportunity for women who were breast cancer survivors to sort of “reclaim” the bra," Executive Director of the Women's Center of Greater Lansing Cindie Alwood stated.

This is the Women's Center 7th year hosting "In Her Cups" and it has taken off more than ever before.

"I mean this is like our largest event ever...it's too big...we have over 100 bras that were submitted," Alwood excitedly mentioned.

About 50 of these bras have come from the Lansing Community College fashion design program, Eaton Intermediate School District career center fashion program, as well as a fashion program in Chiawasee County whom the Women's Center has partnered with this year.

"They're always unique, and very well done, and different and they’re just always wonderful," Alwood said.

The emotion that goes into creating one of these masterpieces is incommunicable.

"They all have their own story…a lot of them are donated to mothers, grandmothers, sisters and friends who’ve had breast cancer or are survivors or not of domestic violence," mentioned Alwood.

Since "In Her Cups" began, the Mitten Mavens Roller Derby team have strut their stuff on the runway to model these one of a kind bras...but this year for the first time ever, breast cancer survivors will also be hitting the stage.

"Because we have so many (bras) they won’t actually be wearing the bras themselves, they’re gonna be showing the form," said Alwood.

When the auction began the room was jam-packed, the crowd was ready and full of excitement, and the bidding finally began.

"My favorite part is when we start to show the bras and the expression on people’s faces and then after when they get loosed up a little bit..the bidding," Alwood stated.

And Alwood was right on the money. Panels were flying up in the air left and right and the feeling in the room was indescribable.

She mentioned that the Women's Center biggest year was when they raised approximately $12,000 however, they're hoping to exceed that this year.

And as far as next year's "In Her Cups" event...

"It's just one of those things I think that once you’ve done it once or once you’ve seen one, you want to do it again. This is one that people love so much that I don’t think we can NOT do it," Alwood excitedly stated.