Women on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus hope to form the world’s longest chain of bras with the twin aims of heightening awareness of breast cancer and winning a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
The Cypriot, British and Dutch organizers hope to string together as many as 100,000 bras on April 30, beating the current record of 79,000 bras held by Singapore, and forming a 56-mile chain.
“It’s an odd thing to do, but it’s the perfect way to get the message across. It’s important that people are aware of the risks, and the need for regular screening,” said Louise van Rooij, a Dutch resident of Cyprus.
Women as far afield as Alaska have contributed bras, including Betty Boothroyd, Britain’s first female speaker of the House of Commons and a regular visitor to the holiday island.
Breast cancer kills about 400,000 women worldwide each year, and doctors say regular screening, especially for women over 50, is vital for early detection which is crucial to a woman’s chances of survival.
