After recently having her own journey with breast cancer, Fran Leet decided she wanted to find a way to give back.
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Like a lot of people, Fran donated to breast cancer groups, but didn’t realise how much they do to help cancer patients, until she found herself in need.
“It’s amazing what they do. They are like floating angels.”
When she came across the Uplift Project Recycle Your Bra initiative, she knew she had to get the word out.
She learned about it in the breast screening clinic in Mackay and started helping to collect bras there.
The group collects second hand bras, nursing bras and mastectomy bras in good condition, plus new bras and underwear, and sends them to women who can’t afford them.
They supply places like The Kimberley, Northern Territory, New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu.
After moving away from Mackay, Fran stopped collecting the bras. It was a positive result from a mammogram that has renewed her desire to help others.
Fran’s sister had breast cancer when she was 40 and died several years later.
There have also been several other woman in Fran’s family who have had breast cancer, so Fran gets checked every year.
She wanted to go to the BreastScreen bus when it was in Gloucester recently, but she was three weeks too early for the yearly check up, so she couldn’t get the scan.
She was told she could go to Raymond Terrace instead. So she did. “If I had waited until the bus came next year, it would have been too late,” Fran said.
She got a call back telling her that something wasn’t right. They had found a spot in her milk gland that was so small, she’s amazed it was even picked up.
This happened two months ago, so she has decided to pick up where she left off and start bras collecting again.
Fran has organised for drop off locations in town: Gloucester Health Foods, McRae’s Fashion Centre, Gloucester Pharmacy and the Masjectic Store.
To assist with the cost of postage Gloucester Health Foods and McRaes are also accepting gold coin donations.
For more information visit www.upliftbras.org/
Anne Keen
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
