Between the shuffles and brush steps of her tap class at Broadway Bound Dance School in Livonia, 12-year-old Laura Kurtjian made a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Inspired by the best friend of her mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2004, Laura decided to turn a bracelet-making hobby into an opportunity for friends and fellow dancers to donate to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Caner Institute.

Lorna Kurtjian (right) and her friend, Alicia, create rubber band bracelets to help raise funds for breast cancer research.

“Laura is a special, caring person,” said her mother, Lorna Kurtjian. “She just loves her ‘aunt’ Patty and wanted to do something to help cure this disease.” Laura frequently made bracelets of rubber hair bands and enjoyed sharing them with friends in her Livonia home. After speaking with her dance instructor, Laura decided to offer the rubber band bracelets to fellow dancers when classes resumed. She worked with friends over the summer of 2004 making an inventory of bracelets. Offered in exchange for a donation towards breast cancer research, Laura’s bracelets raised nearly $400.00. 

Laura gave lessons to her mother and others in an effort to create more bracelets. “To watch all these children helping in the effort to cure cancer was a real blessing,” said Lorna.

Lorna, Alicia and dance instructor Laura Bostic proudly display the bracelets.  To support Laura's efforts email her at mrskurch@yahoo.com.