Baring all to fight breast cancer
Bras up for the taking
Porirua mother Chrissy Leggott has always put others first, despite being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year.
The 45-year-old was diagnosed in June and would undergo a mastectomy in about a month, she said.
In preparation for the surgery, she has offered her bras to women who need them by displaying them on a fence outside her Kokiri Cres property.
‘‘I’m going to have my bust off and, because I’m a large-busted woman, I have to have the other one reduced. It’s like, ‘Well, what am I going to do with all my bras?’ because I’m not going to need them any more.’’
Friends have joined the cause by donating bras and there are 16 so far. She is encouraging Porirua residents to do the same.
She has called the collection Bras for Boobs, and said they would likely be donated to Arohata Prison, refugee services or Women’s Refuge once the collection was large enough.
‘‘There’s a lot of single mums out there. There’ll be other mums out there who can’t afford to buy bras for their kids, so they’re more than welcome to come and have a look. There’s little bras as well.’’
Ms Leggott hoped Bras for Boobs would increase people’s awareness of breast cancer, and encourage women to have their breasts examined.
‘‘[It’s] making women aware to get their boobs checked.’’
Ms Leggott has had two chemotherapy sessions so far. She also shaved her head after losing hair because of the chemotherapy.
Despite fighting an aggressive form of cancer, the mother of two is determined to stay positive.
‘‘I’m not one of those people who will sit back and twiddle my thumbs,’’ she said. ‘‘I have to turn it into a positive, because I’m not a negative person. .’’