Brakes for Breasts: Nationwide Program Combines Free Brake Pads and Breast Cancer Research

Drivers who need brake repairs soon might be better off waiting until Breast Cancer Awareness Month kicks off in October.

What started with just five auto repair shops in Ohio in 2011 has grown to 136 shops across 28 states. Brakes for Breasts is a month-long charity-service promotion in which participating auto shops, all of which are independently owned, are offering free brake pads to customers throughout the month of October.

Customers will still be charged for labor and any other additional services. However, 10% of those costs will go directly to Dr. Vincent Tuohy and his breast cancer research team at the Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Research Fund, according to the local Minnesota news outlet southernminn.com and the program’s own website brakesforbreasts.com.

One of the headlines on the Brakes for Breasts homepage states: “We are growing each year by leaps and bounds – 100% of what we raise goes directly to research.”

This will be the benefit’s fifth year in action. So far they’ve accumulated $224,584 to fund breast cancer research.

Besides being an inspiring example of small business owners and their customers working together to make the world a better place, one of the most interesting aspects of the program is the institution it supports.

Dr. Tuohy and his team at the Cleveland Clinic have spent the last few years developing a potential vaccine to one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in the world. According to the Brakes for Breasts website, they have already tested a successful Breast Cancer Prevention Vaccine in the lab and are in the process of taking it to human trials late this year or in early 2016.

The team’s research is also at the forefront of potential vaccines for ovarian and prostate cancer, among others.