18 July is Mandela Day, and this year South Africans are encouraged to support the cause by donating previously owned or new bras for the popular Raise The Bra initiative.
Raise The Bra is an annual initiative benefiting high school learners and older women around South Africa. Spearheaded by Celebrity Plastic Surgeon Dr Deon Weyers, Raise The Bra asks Dr Deon’s patients to donate bras they previously loved.
This year Raise The Bra has extended nationally, allowing donors to leave their previously loved bras at a selection of Cure Day Hospitals all around South Africa.
“What started as a campaign for my patients in Johannesburg has snowballed into national drive. This has become one of the highlights not only of my career, but also a very rewarding aspect of my life personally,” says Dr Deon Weyers. “The concept was simple: many of my patients undergo breast enlargements or breast reductions. After those surgeries, they no longer have a need for their bras. Instead of the underwear ending up in the back of their cupboards, we wanted to give the bras to the many women in South Africa who cannot afford them.“
Every year the undergarments are collected at Dr Deon’s practice at Life Hospital, Fourways, and then distributed by the team from the ZABRA – AfreeBra initiative. ZABRA is an international volunteer network working with organizations looking after women in their care, who can benefit from receiving bras free of charge.
“Last year it felt like we’d reached a tipping point when months after Raise The Bra wrapped up we were still receiving donations left at the DW Skin & Body’s door. The bras, old and new, continued to pour in and we could see women were making a connection to what we were trying to achieve”says Dr Weyers.
After the bras are dropped off, they are distributed to high schools in Soweto, Alexandra as well as other schools in Gauteng where the ZABRA – AfreeBra initiative receives requests from.
This year, Raise The Bra extended its collection points across a national network to help manage the generous support from women. The hospitals with Raise The Bra collection points are:
Cure Day Hospitals Fourways
Cure Day Hospitals Midstream
Cure Day Hospitals Wilgeheuwel
Cure Day Hospitals Erasmuskloof
Cure Day Hospital Medkin (PTA)
Cure Day Hospital Paarl
Cure Day Hospital Belville
Cure Day Hospital Somerset West
Cure Day Hospital Bloemfontein
Cure Day Hospital East London
More about Dr Deon Weyers:
Dr Deon Weyers is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with a private practice at Fourways Life Hospital in Johannesburg. He is considered one of the most popular cosmetic and reconstructive surgeons in South Africa and often referred to as the surgeon to the stars.
Dr Deon, as he is affectionately known to his patients, uses the latest and best medical procedural and surgical treatments. Including breast procedures, face lifts, blepharoplasty (eyelids), rhinoplasty (nose job) and body contouring procedures, tailor made to each patient’s needs, to name a few.
Dr Deon specializes in a very popular procedure known as the Mommy Makeover. This procedure includes a breast lift/augmentation, liposuction and tummy tuck. These are all performed in his DW Skin & Body plastic and reconstructive surgery practice in Johannesburg
More info at www.drdeon.co.za and https://www.instagram.com/dw_skin_and_body/
Contact ZABRA: www.facebook.com/AfreeBra or email: afreebra@gmail.com
