CANCER SUPPORT associations in the west of Ireland are looking for a place in the Guinness Book of Records by forming the longest chain of bras in the world.
Cancer Care West, in conjunction with Mayo Cancer Support Association, has begun the task of collecting 120,000 bras and forming an unbroken chain which will be over 70 miles long.
Spokeswoman for the initiative Louise Killeen is urging Irish women to donate a bra.
The group has received thousands of bras since the initiative was announced recently in Mayo. The initiative has also received publicity on the Derek Mooney show on RTÉ Radio 1 and via the Mumcentric podcast.
Celebrities supporting the project include singer-turned-gardening expert Kim Wilde, Diarmuid Gavin and singer Dolores Keane.
Organisers are asking women from every county in the country to get involved.
"So please, get in touch, be part of this record, help us put together this chain for Ireland. The record was last beaten in Cyprus, a small island like Ireland, and they collected 114,000 so come on Ireland, let's get the record now," said Ms Killeen.
"You may ask how is this going to create awareness and raise much needed funds. We believe that the publicity generated from the attempt will make people aware of the services we provide and in so doing allow people the opportunity to support us with practical help such as a donation with each bra submitted."
Organisers say the donated bras don't have to be brand new ones; the old grey ones at the back of the drawer will do just fine.
"We're looking for the old unmentionables with the elastic gone, anything that will make up the numbers," said Ms Killeen.
Mayo Cancer Support recently discovered that there is another bra chain being put together in New Zealand, but the Irish attempt won't go to the record officials until November, so that should give them the edge.
To help break the world record the groups are asking the women of Ireland to send a bra and a donation to either Cancer Care West at University College Hospital, Galway, or Mayo Cancer Support, Rock Rose House, 32 St Patrick's Avenue, Castlebar, Co Mayo.