Cancer benefit aims to collect 7,000 bras

Bras Around the Building drive continues to Oct. 23

Bras hanging from a downtown building are bound to get people talking.

Next month, you’ll see just that when bras collected during the Bras Around the Building campaign are draped over Energy 99.7/Country 105’s building.

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) fundraiser, hosted by the radio stations, launched Tuesday and runs until Oct. 23, when the bras are strung from the George Street rooftop for the weekend.

For every bra donated during the campaign, the OLG gives $1 towards breast cancer research.

“This event gets people talking, and that’s something you want with a fundraiser, said Vince Bierworth, promotions coordinator at Energy 99.7/Country 105.

It also gets people talking about breast cancer.

And with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s only fitting that the fifth annual event runs throughout the month.

Almost 25,000 Canadians were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014.

“We’re telling women to check their breasts … so this can be caught early,” said Lyndsey Fullman, fundraising co-ordinator for the society’s Peterborough office.

Bridget Leslie, a breast cancer survivor, volunteers with the campaign.

She joined the event after its first year, excited about the funds being directed to breast cancer research.

“Every day we lose women to breast cancer. I was lucky enough to survive it for nine years, but I still see the ugly face of it out there – that still needs to change,” she said.

The My Left Breast store owner accepts bra donations at her Simcoe Street shop, and said she gets them all year long.

Bras can also be dropped off at the cancer society, Kawatha Downs, Energy 99.7/Country 105, Brink’s and The Co-operators.

Last year, the campaign collected 6,400 bras – that’s $6,400 towards breast cancer research. This year’s goal is 7,000. For those who don’t have bras to give, the society suggests a monetary donation instead of buying a bra to contribute.

After the campaign, bras will be given to Bras for Congo, a charitable organization that sends bras to women in the Congo.

NOTE: See coverage of the Lindsay Bras Around the Building campaign launch on Page A6.

JESSICA NYZNIK/EXAMINER Partners and organizers of Bras Around the Building celebrate the launch of the 2015 campaign at the Canadian Cancer Society office on The Kingsway on Tuesday. The annual fundraiser raises money for cancer research. See Page A6 for a photo from the...