Town bedecked with bra bunting for cancer campaign

Almost a mile (1.6km) of donated undergarments and pink bunting are decorating shop fronts, railings and streets in a Lincolnshire town.

Volunteers took eight weeks to create the display from 300 donated bras to fundraise for a breast cancer charity.

Kim Penfold, from All In Pink Epworth, said most people had been affected by breast cancer in some way.

"The project is to raise awareness to the young, and also, to men. Spread the word that breast cancer doesn't care how you identify, or what your age is, you unfortunately have the potential of getting breast cancer."

She said the bunting and other fundraising events had brought about a sense of community.

"A very close friend of mine, during Covid, was being treated for breast cancer, as well as my auntie," she said.

"There's been people here that have recently lost their partners, who have come in to meet people, so it has been a real active community."

She said the response had been fantastic and "was getting people talking".

"The day we were putting the bras up, the schools were coming out, and it created so many questions.

"We had that opportunity to the younger [generation] to have that conversation with them."

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People in the town say the displays have caught everyone's attention.

Margaret Robinson said: "I think it's amazing, wonderful.

"It raises awareness, doesn't it? About breast cancer and checking your boobs."

Kate Housley said: "I wasn't sure what it was at first.

"It's a good way to raise some interest, getting people asking the right questions and having some good conversations."

The underwear and decorations will be taken down at the end of October.

They will be specially cleaned and some will be recycled.

"Others will be kept for next year and others will be donated to a charity that specialises in sending them out for bra poverty in the UK and abroad," said Penfold.

So far, All In Pink Epworth said the events had raised £3,500 for the CoppaFeel charity.

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