A new ‘bra-bank’ at Bedford train station is opening next week (16 August) to help raise money to fight breast cancer.
Women are being asked to donate no-longer-used bras which can then be converted into cash for Against Breast Cancer who fund treatment research, earlier diagnosis tools and advice to reduce the risk of recurrence and secondary spread.
Station Assistant, Susan Hall, came up with the idea for the bank after discovering charity shops and clothes banks won’t accept bras.
She then found Against Breast Cancer who use the bras to help small businesses in Africa that are part of a textile recovery project.
This prevents bras from going into landfill and instead get a new lease of life in Togo, Ghana and Kenya, where bras remain too expensive to produce locally.
For every tonne of bras collected, Against Breast Cancer receives £700.
“The statistics on how many cancers reoccur is very scary,” said Susan. “That’s why the work of this charity is so important because they focus on increasing the survival rate of all breast cancer patients.
“Like many others, I’ve had various family members affected by cancer but thankfully the disease hasn’t returned, and they are still in remission.”
The ‘bra-bank’ will be open for donations at Bedford station for three weeks, every Monday and Thursday from 09:00 – 12:00, starting on Monday 16 August.
You can find out more about bra recycling schemes by Against Breast Cancer at their website.
