GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., September 12, 2019—West Michigan Woman’s Wine & Wig event welcomes best-selling author and breast cancer survivor Elin Hilderbrand as the event’s featured speaker.
Hilderbrand has written 22 novels, 18 of which have been NYT best sellers, and sold nearly 6 million copies. Her novels are set on Nantucket Island where she has lived for 26 years.
“Each year we strive to find a dynamic speaker who our guests can connect with on a deeper level,” says West Michigan Woman President and Publisher, Kasie Smith. “Who better to captivate a crowd with her personal journey with breast cancer than a professional storyteller. We can’t wait for her inspirational story to be shared in our community.”
Elin’s story began when she found a lump in her breast in 2014. Following her diagnosis, she underwent five surgeries, lost three breasts, was divorced, wrote several novels and cared for her three teenage daughters. Through it all, she found her voice and set off on a path of activism. In addition to many speaking and philanthropic endeavors, Hilderbrand runs an initiative called #MamaStrong, which invites women to share their own breast cancer experiences, or those of loved ones. Hilderbrand’s publisher then sends a box of the author’s books to the cancer center selected by each woman who submitted a story.
While Hilderbrand is in West Michigan, Meijer (the event’s “Big Wig Sponsor”) will host the author for a book signing at their Knapp Street location in Grand Rapids on October 3rd, from 3:30pm - 4:45pm.
Wine & Wig takes place on Thursday, October 3rd, at The High Five GR. The event is a perennial favorite that combines a fun-filled night of fundraising with fanciful wigs all for a serious cause—the fight against breast cancer.
To date, the event has raised $160,000, last year’s event raised $46,000 for its charity partners: Komen Michigan, the American Cancer Society, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and the Van Andel Institute. Wine & Wig is the only event to bring these four powerhouse charities together—making it the perfect opportunity to draw attention to all the local breast cancer organizations at one time, in one place. Tickets can be purchased at www.wineandwig.com.