Madam, - Jane Hardy (May 21st) takes issue with the manner of fundraising for breast cancer charities. As a "big C" mastectomy veteran I would like to differentiate between the two forms of fundraising she mentioned.
Elle McPherson, for example, attracted much media attention when she visited Dublin recently promoting her own-label T-shirt to raise breast cancer awareness. These T-shirts were available at Brown Thomas, yet when I visited the store the large size just about fitted my friend - a size 10-12 (is this the nation's maximum or even average size?). Clearly, her marketing gurus were using the cancer bandwagon to sell their label.
On the other hand, I applaud the many good people who shake buckets and organise gala balls to gather both much-needed funds and raise awareness for these charities. This is done with no benefit to themselves.
Admittedly, this fundraising does sometimes include wearing glitzy bras, etc, but that in turn usually attracts enough attention to get those extra few bob from contributors.
Jane Hardy does not think that the prostrate cancer campaigners would encourage the wearing of codpieces at a fundraising event. Well, I am not so sure; every penny counts in the quest for a cure! - Yours, etc,
ELEANOR DELANY,
Bedfanstown,
Co Meath.