TEN brave ladies who have been affected by breast cancer in one way or another have launched an Altrincham ‘Bra Bank’ at Randalls Jewellers.

The women posed in their bras and held up ‘bra bunting’ in the window of the George Street jewellers to encourage women to rifle through their underwear drawers and donate all ill-fitting or otherwise unwanted bras. The Bra Bank will be available as long as women keep donating and the bras themselves will be sent to Africa for reuse by a UK recycling firm. Their value is paid by the recycler to the charity, Against Breast Cancer, to support breast cancer research.

“This initiative is an all-round positive,” said Sarah Walmsley. “Most charity shops do not accept underwear, but bras need not be thrown away just because they no longer fit or have become a little lack lustre.

“Whatever the size and colour, whether training bras or over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders, we are asking all girls and women to donate them at Randalls. The reuse of these unwanted bras reduces unnecessary manufacturing and also generates financial support to fight this horrendous disease.”

The charity fundraising initiative has been organised by recycling campaigner, Sarah Walmsley, and Martin Duff, owner of Randalls Jewellers and Chair of Altrincham BID. The Bra Bank is located just inside the door of Randalls to make recycling convenient and accessible to ladies while they are shopping in Altrincham. It is hoped that other shops in Trafford will follow suit and make Bra Banks available right across the borough.