In 2001 Steve Mummery Mix 94.5 program manager offered me the opportunity to be involved with 'Bras Across The Chase'. I decided to dye 3000 pairs of bras purple (this I did in my washing machine) and hung them in the Perth city center and the Purple Bra was born. Purple Bra Day, which promotes the message "Early Detection Saves Lives", sees hundreds of businesses sponsoring someone to wear a purple bra for the day, with blokes in the workplace(wearing a purple bra) joining in on one of our best breast awareness campaigns.
Up North in WA, thousands of purple bras have also fluttered in the breeze to attract attention! Northampton's main street was decked out with "banners of bras", all dyed purple, and strung up in front of the local businesses. Visitors from England couldn't believe their eyes when they drove into town.
In addition to the Purple Bra Day, the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA Inc has also started selling purple dog tags and to support our charity, the Navy soon had "models" ready to assist photographers from newspaper organizations to promote our message of saving lives.
The Purple Bra has become a major feature of the BCFWA and no matter where you are on Purple Bra Day, it is possible that you will spot a purple bra on the young, the daring, in the Navy, or out in rural WA.
The Breast Cancer Foundation of WA Inc is one of the highest profile charities in the state; with no recurrent government funding to rely on, every dollar raised in WA, stays in WA.
Ros Worthington OAM, Founder and Patron of the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA Inc