Wanakafest record attempt for breast cancer

Media release – September 12, 2006

Wanakafest aims to support breast cancer research with world record attempt this weekend

Wanakafest will boost breast cancer research funds this weekend when it attempts to break the world record for the longest chain of bras.

Earlier indications suggest organisers may be well short of the current Guinness Book of Record set on April 30 this year by Cypriot women with a total of 114, 782 bras.

Wanakafest’s chain of bras will be hung on a temporary security fencing maze on Wanaka’s main street this weekend and the final figure will not be known until Sunday afternoon.

Net proceeds from the event will go to The Breast Cancer Research Trust.

Thousands of bras are pouring into Wanaka this week which will certainly set the inaugural national record and possibly push the world record.

``We have counted out thousands already. We have 1000 bras coming in from the UK after they were gathered up and posted out here by a BBC radio station in Northampton,’’ organiser Kerry Quin said.

``We had three bags arrive with a thousand bras in each after a Christchurch woman Marilyn Muirhead had all the Op shops there collect all their bras.’’

The Queenstown Lakes District Council has removed all the bras off the defunct Cadrona bra fence and given them to the world attempt.

Auckland-based lingerie designer Abracadabra is also playing a major part in the record-attempt by donating part of their sales proceeds to the trust during this campaign.

Abracadabra produces New Zealand’s fastest growing strapless and backless bras.

``We sponsor the champion Magic netball team and they have donated bras for the chain. It is great they have become involved by donating their bras for this excellent cause,’’ Abracadabra director Vivian Zhong said today.
The campaign aims to get women from all over the country to send in their old bras with a donation via www.wanakafest.co.nz.

Companies have also be invited to donate bras with a money donation along the way in the quest to collect 115,000 bras,’ Wanakafest organiser Kerry Quin said today.

``We are thrilled Abracadabra are behind us. They are working hard to collect second-hand strapped bras for this event to raise awareness of breast cancer, and to raise funds for the Trust.

``We would love all of New Zealand to get behind this world record attempt in this last week because more people (600) die of breast cancer each year than those killed annually on our roads.’’

ENDS

© Scoop Media