Bra-vo! 8,000 bras donated in Gambian women's appeal
The organiser of an appeal for women to donate unwanted bras to help others in Africa says she is totally overwhelmed by the response.
Janice Holmes, of Balderton, will be travelling to The Gambia later this year to measure women and fit them with bras to help protect them from sexual attacks.
The appeal which was launched in June has now closed and Janice estimates that more than 8,000 bras have been given.
“I am totally overwhelmed by people’s generosity,” she said. “It has blown away any expectations I had. Thank you to everyone.
“All the bras that have been donated will be put to good use. Nothing will be wasted.”
The donated bras have been sorted into sizes by Janice and a team of volunteers, and are being loaded into a shipping container that will leave for The Gambia in a few days’ time.
Janice’s appeal, which featured in the Advertiser, touched the hearts of women from throughout the area, and further afield.
Collections were organised by shops, offices and clubs, and donations made by individual women who wanted to support those less fortunate.
These included a woman who asked friends to donate items to the appeal instead of give her presents for her 50th birthday.
Another said the appeal prompted her to start sorting her mother’s clothes, something she had been unable to face since she died earlier this year.
Janice wants to make underwear accessible for all women and, after more than 15 years as a trained bra fitter, set up her own business last year with that aim.
She started Janice Rose Lingerie in September to help those without access to professionally-fitted bras.
She visits care and nursing homes, residential complexes and breast cancer support groups, as well as offering private one-to-one fittings.
When she decided to help Newark-based charity New Life Gambia to collect unwanted bras for Gambian woman and girls, the response was instant.
She urged women to donate bras that were still in good condition, but many have also given ones that are new and unworn.
In November, Janice and other volunteers will be going with New Life Gambia to distribute the underwear and see first-hand how such a simple item of clothing can make such a difference.
Women and girls without underwear are more likely to be a target for rape and sexual abuse because a lack of such items shows they live in poverty.
Janice said: “This is going to make a huge difference to the lives of those lovely Gambian ladies and give them the dignity that we take for granted.”
During November’s trip, Janice will be delivering educational talks as well as measuring, fitting and supplying the women with correctly-sized bras.
“My aim is also to train local women out there to be able to measure each other so this project can continue and the bras can be passed on,” she said.
New Life Gambia was set up to provide education and a future for children there. The charity has two schools, a first aid room and a local nurse.
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