Bra-clad walkers raise funds and a few eyebrows for cancer support service

BRA-CLAD men and women raised a few eyebrows and thousands of euro when they walked through the streets of Dublin yesterday in aid of Action Breast Cancer.

At the head of the unusual convoy was Dublin Institute of Technology student Maeve Breslin, whose mother, Carmel, is suffering from metastatic breast cancer.

Similar walks have taken place in Britain, but it is believed it was the first such bare-the-bra walk to take place in Ireland.

The 22-year-old bio-science student from Cloneygowan, Co Offaly, led around 50 people through the city. Sadly, her mother, who has survived leukaemia and a series of strokes, was too ill to see the group off.

Maeve, who is hoping to get involved in cancer research when she leaves college, said her mother, who was being cared for at home by her father, Bernard, was doing ok and still “going strong”.

“She cannot come today because she is not the best on her feet and would not be able to walk. The cancer has now spread to her bones,” said Maeve, the youngest of four children.

Each of the participants raised at least €20 in sponsorship and also collected donations from the public during the walk between the DITs in Bolton Street and Kevin Street.

“I am hoping to raise around €4,000 and all of the money will go directly to Action Breast Cancer,” said Maeve, who said it took over four months to organise the event.

While most of the men were willing to walk the streets of Dublin wearing just a bra, most of the women wore their bras over t-shirts. One women dared to be different and braved the elements in a corset.

And, to ensure there was no shortage of bras for the male participants, Maeve brought along about 20 of her own!

Simon Heffernan, from Crumlin, Dublin, who is friend of Maeve’s, said he was delighted to be taking part. “I had to really squeeze into the little number I am wearing but it is all for a good cause,” he said.

Aidan O’Hara from Kilbarrack, Dublin, and a film and media student at Dublin Business School, decided to wear a bra over his shirt. “I am not a pretty sight at the moment. I tripped on a step the other night and am covered in bruises,” he said.

Aisling Dunne, from Kildare, Co Dublin, a pharmaceutical science student at DIT, said she opted for wearing the bra over the t-shirt because she thought she was coming down with a cold.

Chris O’Byrne, Conor Coleman, Maeve Breslin, Nimmi Rowat, Garry Moore, Chris Bonnie and Brian Kilduff take part in the bra walk in aid of Action Breast Cancer in Dublin. Picture: Maura Hickey