Brandlesholme Zumba class supports charity work in South Africa

Women and girls from an I Will If You Will (IWIYW) Zumba class have been collecting bras for the Winnie Mabaso Foundation, a charity which supports vulnerable and orphaned children in South Africa.

Word got around about the bra collection at All Saints Church in Brandlesholme thanks to churchgoer Sue Stonestreet, whose close friend Lisa Ashton MBE founded the charity.

The Zumba class meets at the church every Wednesday evening and, after hearing about the collection, IWIYW instructor Julie Porter soon rallied the troops.

The collected bras will now be taken to the charity’s base in Finetown, south of Johannesburg, to help local women in their quest for employment.

Julie said: “What we’re giving to these ladies is a confidence boost. These women are trying to make their lives better by searching for jobs, but as soon as they’re seen to be without a bra, they’re immediately typecast as being from the poorer areas.

“As soon as I knew about the collection happening at the church, I’ve been asking everyone I know to donate any bras that are no longer being worn and I’ve been overwhelmed at how many have been donated.

“The girls in my Zumba class at the church have done me proud and I hope the collection will make a real difference when Lisa takes them to South Africa later this month.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 16 February 2016.

Picture: Women and girls from the I Will If You Will (IWIYW) Zumba class in Brandlesholme with their collection of bras for the Winnie Mabaso Foundation.

Note to editors:

About I Will If You Will

I Will If You Will is focused on changing women’s and girls’ behaviours towards taking part in sport and physical activity with the aim of getting more women and girls being more active, more often, and helping improve the health and wellbeing of people in Bury.

It aims to overcome the many practical and emotional barriers to being active, while encouraging women to support each other by joining the I Will If You Will community.

The Phase One campaign (2013–14) was delivered by Bury Council with £2.3 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England. For the Phase Two campaign (2015–16), Sport England has allocated a further £2 million to extend delivery.

The successful IWIYW pilot campaign identified valuable insight and helped develop the foundations for Sport England’s national This Girl Can campaign, which launched in January 2015, as well as Sport England’s practical guide to helping women and girls get active (www.sportengland.org/womenandgirls).

About the Winnie Mabaso Foundation

The Winnie Mabaso Foundation was established to support vulnerable and orphaned children in South Africa, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Mabaso Love is spreading... come and help us to share it, and make life brighter for those who really need it. Visit www.winniemabaso.org for more information.