WHAT a bra-illiant year!
Women in North East Lincolnshire have binned more than 5,000 bras to raise money for the Pink Rose Suite at Grimsby's hospital.
As part of the Grimsby Telegraph-backed Bin A Bra campaign, women are being encouraged to rummage through their underwear drawers and drop off any unwanted items into one of the pink bra banks located around the area.
For every kilo of bras deposited in the banks, £1 will be given to the suite at the Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital, and this year £305 was raised.
The firm behind the fundraising drive is BCR Global Textiles, which is based in the West Midlands. It collects the bins when they are full before weighing the contents and passing on the donations.
Debby Whydell, the owner of Sudz Hair Design, in James Street, Grimsby, is in full support of the campaign as she received treatment through the Pink Rose Suite.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, Debby, 41, has had her right breast removed and reconstructed, and is now awaiting further surgery next year.
She said: "I am doing well and recent scans have shown I am free from cancer.
"However, I am waiting for a second lot of reconstructive surgery to take place in March. It is all thanks to the suite that I have got this far, so I wanted to have a bra bank in my salon, which people could donate to.
"It is a very unique campaign and something which all women can get involved in.
"Over the year, I have seen people bring in bags full of old bras. It is a simple way to raise money and everyone welcomes a clearout now and then."
Jenny Smith, consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at the Pink Rose Suite, said: "We are delighted at the amount of money raised this year. It's such as great scheme and we would like to thank everyone for getting involved.
"The money raised will be used to upgrade patient facilities at the suite."
Bra banks can be found at Sudz Hair Design, all EA Broadburn chemists, the Positive Image Clinic and Sidewalk Restaurant, in Grimsby town centre.
For more information on the Bin A Bra campaign and to request a bra bank, visit www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk
