Media Release
UNDERWIRE CALL OUT IN LEAD UP TO FIELD DAYS

Sweet Louise, New Zealand’s only charity solely dedicated to incurable breast cancer, is urging visitors to Field Days in Hamilton next week to bring along any unwanted bras (underwire or otherwise).

CEO, Sweet Louise, Fiona Hatton said of their unorthodox request of Field Days visitors; “We are aiming to collect 570 preloved bras.”

Each bra will represent one of Sweet Louise’s current 570 members spread throughout New Zealand which range in age from mid-twenties through to late eighties.

The Sweet Louise team are planning on creating a giant chandelier using the bras to shine a light on incurable breast cancer. The work of art will be unveiled in Auckland in the lead up to NZ Fashion Week and those who donate their bra will go into the draw to win two front row seats at a designer show at NZ Fashion Week.

Hatton is hoping that the expected haul of bras of all shapes, sizes, colours and styles will represent the diversity of New Zealanders who are impacted by incurable breast cancer. “We wanted to create a piece of art that becomes a conversation starter, something visual that would remind people that incurable breast cancer is not about statistics - it is about real people and their families and their unique hopes and dreams.”

An estimated 600 New Zealanders each year are delivered the devastating news that they have incurable breast cancer. Sweet Louise touches the lives of over 90% of them and relies solely on donations as it receives no government funding.

Visitors to Field Days can drop their donated bras to the Sweet Louise site which is part of the Health Hub space. Donated bras will be displayed on fence wire at the site in a nod to the popular Wanaka fence line of bras.

Hatton added; “We don’t care what condition the bras are in, as like us, they all have an authentic story to tell.”

Visitors who arrive at field days without a bra in hand can still help Sweet Louise with a cash donation.

Sweet Louise’s regional coordinators (spread throughout New Zealand), work with the charity’s 570 members, getting to know them and their families so that they can offer bespoke services based on their individual needs. Examples of support offered to members includes assistance with childcare, housecleaning, gardening, massages, mastectomy underwear, wigs and much more.

For more information about Sweet Louise, visit: www.sweetlouise.co.nz

About Sweet Louise

Each year 3000 New Zealanders are delivered the news that they have breast cancer. Of these, 15-20% will go on to develop incurable cancer. 600 people die from it every year. Sweet Louise touches the lives of over 90% of these people and relies solely on donations. There are currently over 570 Sweet Louise members.

Sweet Louise helps members with everything from facilitation of local networking groups through to vouchers for mastectomy underwear, wigs, housecleaning, babysitting, gardening, groceries or whatever is needed by that family.

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