6000 bras en route to a new home

More than 6000 bras will be well received in developing countries and disadvantaged communities thanks to the generosity of donations to the second annual bra-a-thon.

A group of local women who now come together every May to co-ordinate the bra-a-thon were overwhelmed by the response.

After an amazing first year effort, they were shocked to collect an additional 2294 bras than last year.

This year's collection, which saw bras donated from interstate, resulted in 6393 bras packed away and ready for shipment to women in disadvantaged communities.

More than 8000 items in total were collected which included bathers, socks and underwear.

The bra-a-thon was co-ordinated by local women Belynda Burleigh, Michala Chapman, Michelle Cantwell and Natasha Hoekstra.

The bra-a-thon is run in conjunction with the Uplift Project, which delivers bras to women living in developing countries and disadvantaged communities in the Northern Territory where a bra is often unobtainable or unaffordable.

But, as well as collecting bras, the project also needed funding support for shipment costs this year.

Like the response to the bra collection, the women were amazed at how generous people had been with a further $2310 for shipping.

The project runs throughout the year but running the bra-a-thon in May helps to raise awareness of the project and to gather as many second-hand bras as possible.

Since 2005, with the help of Intimo and Rotary, the Uplift Project has sent more than 650,000 bras to 11 Asia Pacific countries.

The countries include Fiji, PNG, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Bali, Cambodia, Vanuatu, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

In Australia, the project also assists disadvantaged women in isolated communities throughout the Northern Territory and The Kimberley region.

A new bra, if available, can cost 10 to 30 hours' wages.

Often the bra received through Uplift will be the only bra that a woman owns.

The organisers acknowledged the support of individuals and businesses who provided assistance as drop-off points for the collection as well as the many generous individuals and community clubs for their financial support and donations.