Bracelets raise awareness, funds

FOR A CAUSE — Pink wristbands created by DnA Survival Bracelets will help mark Breast Cancer Awareness this month. For each bracelet purchased, $2 goes to Bridge to Hope.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — To support the annual Bridge to Hope Breast Cancer Awareness Walk on Saturday, DnA Survival Bracelets are donating $2 to the Bridge to Hope organization for every breast cancer bracelet they sell.
    D.J. and Angel Barton of DnA Survival Bracelets started crafting the bracelets in March.
    “I heard about the survival bracelets from a friend,” said D.J. “and thought it was a great way to carry around some strong rope for when I go hunting, fishing or camping.”
    When Barton began looking around to find one of the bracelets, he could not find one locally, thus sparking the business.
    “My wife and I decided we would buy cord and make our own bracelets,” he explained.
    The Bartons made 10 bracelets to start.
    “I showed them to some friends at work and sold them all that day,” said D.J. “Two weeks later, we had 40 orders and we have been making them ever since.”
    The bracelets consists of U.S.A.-made 550 paracord, with the Bartons tying each one by hand. There are a variety of sizes including a smaller version of six-feet of cord called the rope bracelet to the regular survival bracelet of eight-feet of cord, along with a rope necklace of 10-feet of cord and the super survival, which has a compass and whistle made into a buckle of 16-feet of cord.
    Among the best sellers has been the breast cancer awareness bracelet and the faith bracelet.
    “The faith bracelet is a regular survival bracelet with a cross attached,” said D.J. “We also have key chains, which have three feet of cord.”
    The Bartons came up with the breast cancer awareness bracelet because some of their family and friends are breast cancer survivors.
    “We thought the breast cancer bracelet would be a great way to show support for the cause and raise money to help other people who have not only breast cancer, but all cancers. It is a great feeling to know that we are lending a hand in helping people in our area to fight cancer!”
    So far, the Bartons have sold around 100 breast cancer bracelets.
    “That number is growing at a steady rate,” added D.J.
    DnA Survival Bracelets is an additional job for the Bartons, as D.J. works full time as a CNC operator at Smith & Wesson and Angel works part time for Community Living Association.
    “We are very  pleased with how the business is going,” said D.J. “We have our own online store now which was done by a local business called Night Web Design and have sold bracelets as far as Washington state. Our local sales have been great and getting better every month! We are expecting to be quite busy over the next few months and are very excited for what is to come in the future.”
    DnA Survival Bracelets range from $6 to $20 a piece.
    For more information or to order a bracelet, the Bartons can be reached at 694-3092 or by e-mail at dnasurvival12 @gmail.com. The Bartons’ work can also be seen on their website at www.dnasurvivalbracelets .com, as well as on Facebook.