Brain charity shop’s bra-illiant idea to raise cash for support
WOMEN of Poynton are being urged to bin their bras to help support a brain injury charity.
Staff at Headway charity shop on Park Lane have come up with a quirky fundraising campaign to help the charity, which supports people affected by brain injury and their families.
They are hoping to collect 500kg of brassieres which will be recycled in return for £1 per kilo.
Volunteers at the shop have already managed to collect almost 80kg of the undergarments using a specially designated donation bin set up in the shop’s entrance.
The charity is also recruiting support from local schools, pubs and businesses with the hope of raising as much as they can for brain injury survivors and their families from the brassiere appeal.
Sue Watkins, who runs the charity shop, said: “We are calling on local ladies to bin their bras for brain injury.
“Many people don’t realise the wide range of donations that we welcome and how even small contributions can make a big difference to helping families affected by brain injury.
“Every 90 seconds someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with a brain injury, effects of which are often complex and can devastate the lives of entire families.
“We hope that our quirky fundraiser generates awareness of the many different ways the local community can get involved and help people affected.
“So if you are looking to clear out your clutter or have any unwanted bras in your drawers at home, please bring them in and help improve life after brain injury.”
Sue and her assistant manager Helen Share have also been contacting slimming clubs to appeal for unwanted bras.
Sue said: “We’ve had a great response to the appeal with very little publicity and have collected about 80kg in the bin outside. We want people to spread the word and try and collect as many as possible.
“Our initial aim is 500kg but we’ll just keep going for as long as it lasts. The more money the better.”
The appeal comes after Headway released statistics showing that female head injury hospital admissions have risen by a quarter since 2005.
Sue is also organising another quirky fundraising effort by spending the day in a bath filled with hats.
This zany stunt is to raise money for the charity’s Hats for Headway appeal.
Anyone interested in volunteering or donating stock is welcome to visit the Headway shop at 19 Park Lane, in Poynton; or call shop manager Sue Watkins on 01625 877978 for more information.