Many Fijian breast cancer patients blow up a balloon, or use an old tea towel to pad out their clothes, just so they can go out in public.

The South Coast Register and Knickerboxers are throwing out the challenge to local workplaces to help Robertson's Heather Tait in her mission to provide mastectomy bras and pre-used prosthetic breasts to Fijian women.

Over several trips, Heather has fitted women with  breasts and bras donated by Australian women.

Her work has changed the lives of  women who were otherwise destined to a future filled with discomfort and shame. 

Following Heather's  powerful speech to the Shoalhaven Women's Conference last week, many local women have expressed a desire to help.

For every trip to Fiji, Heather pays for her own airfares and accommodation, and refuses to accept any cash donations, saying only, “it’s the least I can do”.

Read Heather's story here

Rita Sullivan from Knickerboxers first met Heather when June Lenham from the Shoalhaven Breast Cancer Support group asked if she could source any pre-loved prosthetic bras.

Rita has been fitting post mastectomy bras to women on the South Coast and Southern Highlands for many years and has been able to send Heather a large amount of used, pre-loved and excess stock to distribute to women in Fiji.

“Heather is an inspiration,” Rita said. “She is just a small business owner who has taken this on.

“If women don’t have good prosthetics they become unbalanced and this can lead to serious health consequences. It’s not just about appearance.”

Rita too, refuses  to accept cash, but is happy for people to purchase gift vouchers from her business, Knickerboxers, in Nowra to pass on to Heather.

Heather can then order prosthetic bras as needed through Knickerboxers for her next trip to Fiji.

Knickerboxers will order and supply all the bras for the wholesale price, with every cent of your donation going directly towards the purchase.

Special “Bras for Fiji” gift vouchers for $20, $50 or $100 can be purchased from Knickerboxers.

We hope all our readers will take a whip around the office -  a small donation can dramatically change a woman’s life for the better.

“Heather has built a grass roots charity.  She  has touched so many more lives, not just the women in Fiji, but women here in the Shoalhaven," Rita said.