Great Midlands Fun Run: 10th June 2012

2012 will be the 10th Anniversary of the GMFR, which is always a great event as well as being a good source of fundraising for Breast Friends with both members and supporters running, jogging and walking the 8.5 mile course.  This year we want to put in a team of members to show what cancer survivors can do.  Could you join us?  You don't have to be a runner - it's fine to walk, or even dawdle, calling at the ice cream van mid-way.  Alternatively you could set yourself a target of running part, or all, of the course as part of a fitness regime.  We have at least one member who started this way in 2008 and is now a regular runner and feeling leaner and fitter for it!  Do let us know if you're interested - we could even put on some 'training' sessions before the event.  Contact us at a meeting or on [email protected]

Breast Friends Want Your Bras!!!

Birmingham City Council and Breast Friends are working in partnership on a citywide bra recycling scheme to raise funds for our charity. We are asking the women of Birmingham for a �marathon effort� in collecting and recycling their unwanted, but sill wearable bras. Literally, we want to try and collect enough bras to stretch the length of an Olympic marathon, 26 miles and 385 yards, before the start of the games in London in 2012. This would mean a donation of 46,145 unwanted bras in the next 18 months!

Our pink �bra banks� which are situated all over Birmingham have already been stuffed with loads of unwanted bras, but we need plenty more! The innovative bra recycling scheme raises funds for the Breast Friends charity whereby the bras are sold to traders in developing countries via a local recycling company, meaning women in these countries gain access to garments they might not normally be able to afford.

You can take your bras to any of our �bra banks� which are situated locally at: Four Oaks Railway Station, Sutton Coldfield, (where we also have a large clothing bank) Sainsbury�s Supermarket, Castle Vale Retail Park, and Lidl Supermarket, Kings Road, Birmingham.

You may also find a �mini bra bank� in your local GP surgery. Please ask your family and friends to donate too!

You can also bring your bras to any of our meengs or events and hand them to a member of our committee, or bring them into the Oncology Clinic, Sheldon Block at Good Hope in a bag clearly labeled �Breast Friends� and hand them into reception or to one of the staff or volunteers.

Could you possibly help us by having a �mini bra bank� at your place of work, in your staff room or business premises, or by asking if your local GP surgery or local shop can place a bra bank for us? They are small, pink boxes made of cardboard. Please contact Jackie on 0121 378 3037

Mr Jones

Mr Jones retired from his position at Good Hope on Friday March 18th 2011 and has returned to South Africa.  We wish him a long and happy retirement and thank him for his care over the years.