To increase awareness about breast cancer and the preventable measures women can take to detect it, area businesses are collecting bras to hang across the Kansas River.

Sponsors are asking women to donate their bras to help the cause.

The Salon Hawk, in the Kansas Union at Kansas University, and the Boeing Wichita Credit Union at 4821 W. Sixth St., are gathering the bras. They will collect them through October. Lazer 105.9 also is sponsoring the event.

A date hasn’t been set yet for when the bras will be strung across the river.

Emily Willis, owner of the Salon Hawk, said she already has about 100 bras, but a lot more are needed to span the river. Monetary donations also can be given, with the money going to Health Care Access, which offers medical services to people without health insurance.

Along with the Bras Across the Kaw event, the salon is putting in pink hair extensions with 100 percent of the proceeds going to breast cancer awareness.