Letchworth breast cancer survivor raises £3k for 'Reco' bras

Natalie Andrews, from Letchworth, has had breast cancer twice over the last three years.

Together with her brothers, Matt and Conner, the trio have raised £2,910 to buy special 'Reco' bras, which can cost upwards of £40 each, for other women who will also face surgery.

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Matt and Conner were sponsored to shave their heads along with Natalie before she started chemotherapy, and they also put on a 12-hour mixed martial arts seminar and training day, attended by world class instructors, to raise funds.

One hundred people attended a fundraising jiu jitsu event. (Image: East and North Hertfordshire NHS Hospitals' Charity)

Matt and Conner said: "Natalie is so young to have had breast cancer twice, yet she has taken the hair loss in her stride.

"When she spoke to us about the cost of special bras and how lucky she was to be able to afford one of them, we were really shocked, especially when she said many women can’t afford them.

"Nat shaved her head in December and we joined her, but we knew we wanted to do more, so decided to organise a Jiu Jitsu v Cancer event.

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"The Andy Nugent's Academy, a martial arts centre in Stevenage, helped us put it on. One hundred people attended and we had incredible instructors from Bristol, Birmingham and Southampton. We are really happy to have raised funds for these special bras for women who need them."

Natalie with her brothers Matt and Conner. (Image: East and North Hertfordshire NHS Hospitals' Charity)

Natalie, who is mum to two teenage sons and works at Lonsdale School in Stevenage, added: "The Reco bras are essential, and I was motivated to raise funds so that others could have them too.

"Wearing a reconstructive bra makes you feel so much better. Hair will grow back, but losing a breast is really hard physically, but also mentally."

Eloise Huddleston, director of the East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity, said: "This is an incredible amount to have raised and it will help so many women who have had breast cancer surgery and perhaps can’t afford to buy a specialist bra themselves.

"As Natalie said, losing a breast is incredibly upsetting, but these bras can really help women feel a bit more like their old selves. They will make such a difference."