Ballymoney Soroptimists 'Forge' link with award-winning gym for charity bra collection

Members of the Ballymoney Soroptimists have been collecting unwanted bras over the last month for a campaign run by Northern Ireland breast cancer charity, Pretty n Pink.

The bras will be recycled with the proceeds being given to Pretty n Pink. The bras are then recycled and shipped to Third World countries for women who cannot afford the luxury of buying a bra.

The Soroptimists were delighted when Ballymoney business Forge Female Fitness agreed to support their campaign by hosting a ‘bra bin’ in their gym at Meetinghouse Street in the town.

Forge Female Fitness was founded to help women over the age of 30 to “become the best version of themselves”. The gym, run for females only with an all-female coaching staff, picked up the accolade of Northern Ireland Gym of the Year in 2024.

President of Ballymoney Soroptimists, Fiona Murdock and bra collection organiser Pamela Smyth, went along to Forge Female Fitness to deliver a bra bin and meet up with Head Coach Joanne Hall.

A spokesperson for Ballymoney Soroptimists said: “The name Soroptimist means ‘best for women’ and our core principle is to empower, educate and enable women and girls locally, nationally and internationally.

"That’s why we were delighted that Forge Female Fitness agreed to partner with us in our bra collection for Pretty n Pink – a campaign which is helping women locally and internationally.”