Botox for the cure
Most cities run for a cure to breast cancer. Aspen is not most cities: Its residents run, bike, shop and sleep for a cure. They dress up cowboys in pink for a cure. And this year, for the first time, Aspenites can inject for a cure.
Dr. W. Jason Martin of the Aspen Institute of Plastic Reconstructive Surgery will donate proceeds - which could total $20,000 - from Botox treatments he performs July 16-17 to Komen Aspen.
Martin, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, said approximately 25 percent of his practice is devoted to breast reconstruction surgeries for women who have had breast cancer. He said that after seeing its effects first-hand, he wanted to find a way to help fight the disease.
"I wanted to do something to donate to Komen because I think it's a great organization that's actually making in-roads into finding a cure," Martin said. "I figured the way I could conceivably make a larger donation would be to utilize the skills I have as a plastic surgeon."
Martin will donate an equivalent of the proceeds of Botox injections - $500 per appointment - to Komen Aspen. He is buying the Botox, so 100 percent of the money will go to Komen Aspen, he said. He hopes to do between 20 and 30 appointments, with a maximum of 40.
Claudia Curry Hill, Komen Aspen executive director, said Martin's fundraiser would be a good supplement to Komen's events, including Race for the Cure on July 19, and third-party fundraisers such as a Shop for the Cure party at Ralph Lauren on July 16.
"I think it's very generous of him," she said. "There are many women who go and get Botox, and for those who usually do that anyway and want to support us as well, they can."
She said she would not want to encourage women who would not ordinarily get Botox to seek the treatment, but that Botox does have some medicinal purposes.
"It has nothing to do with breast-cancer treatment, but there are many ladies who already do this in our town," she said.
The fundraiser, touted as a chance to "donate your laugh lines 'for the cure'" in a press release, might seem counterintuitive for donations to a health-focused charity. But Martin said that the safety of Botox has been well studied, and funds from a procedure many women are having anyway can be donated to breast cancer.
"My feeling was that if a patient chooses to have a Botox treatment, it would be nice to use the money that is spent on that for a cause like the Komen Foundation," he said. "So it goes past the point of people's viewpoint on Botox, and goes to how can you use a practice like mine to raise money?"
Although the primary focus of the event is Botox, Martin will also donate to Komen Aspen the equivalent to the funds he raises from consultations.
Martin will speak at a Komen Aspen event Tuesday with Dr. Carolyn Kaelin, a surgeon and breast cancer survivor. Appointments for Botox treatments can be made by calling his clinic.