From left to right, Brown’s Tire, Towing & Auto Center staff Amy Leggett-Holley, co-owner of NAPA, Michael Maxwell, Scott Monroe, Jason Taylor, Chase Brown, Ronnie Brown and Maria Brown, are working together to promote the Brakes for Breasts Campaign this month. Photo by Toni Milbourne

SHEPHERDSTOWN –Brown’s Tire, Towing & Auto Center is proudly participating, once again, in the Brakes for Breasts campaign. Each October, designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the campaign allows independent repair facilities across the country to raise funds for cancer research. Funds are specifically raised for the Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Fund.

Shops around the country participate, but so far, in 2025, Brown’s Tire is may be the only shop in West Virginia participating in the program.

“When I looked this year, we were the only one,” said Maria Brown, who owns the shop with her husband, Ronnie. “There may be others, but we have often been the only one in our state.”

“We are excited to continue being part of the program,” Maria Brown said, adding that there is a bit of a commitment to participate, such as the need to purchase shirts and a banner for the campaign. However, she added that the shop’s NAPA dealer, located in Boonsboro, Maryland, partners with them to help supply some of the brake pads and materials. Co-owner of the NAPA stores, Amy Leggett-Holley, was on hand this week to help promote the fundraiser.

The fundraiser has the participating shops giving away free brake pads or shoes, with the customer paying only for the labor and any other necessary parts. Ten percent of those proceeds goes to the fundraiser.

Developed by Leigh Anne Best and Laura Frank, Brakes for Breasts initially raised about $10,000 from a handful of automotive maintenance shops in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. The numbers continue to increase as more and more shops sign on to assist with the fundraising.

Brakes for Breasts is run solely by volunteers and supported by the auto repair community. A true grassroots initiative, all funds go to research. Dr. Vincent Tuohy, at the Cleveland Clinic, has created a vaccine that has proved effective in laboratory animals in actually preventing breast cancer. Funds raised will continue to further that research in hopes of successfully creating a vaccine.

To learn more about the breast cancer vaccine, browse a list of participating facilities and view a yearly breakdown of the more than $1.4 million raised, visit www.brakesforbreasts.com.

Those who wish to take advantage of the opportunity to give to the Brakes for Breasts cause are encouraged to schedule their brake work between now and Oct. 31. Brown’s Tire, Towing & Auto Center is located at 7735 Martinsburg Pike in Shepherdstown. Staff can be reached at 304-876-6835 to schedule an appointment.