Letchworth mum raises nearly £3,000 to provide bras for patients after breast cancer surgery

Natalie, who is mum to two sons aged 15 and 18, has had breast cancer twice over the last three years and has had treatment at Lister Hospital in Stevenage, New QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City and Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood.

Her brothers, Matt and Conner, joined Natalie in raising funds to provide the specialist bras, which can cost upwards of £40 each, for other women who will also face surgery. 

Matt and Conner were sponsored to shave their heads along with Natalie before she started chemotherapy, and they also put on a 12-hour mixed martial arts seminar and training day, attended by world class instructors, to raise funds.

Matt and Conner said: "Natalie is so young to have had breast cancer twice, yet she has taken the hair loss in her stride. When she spoke to us about the cost of special bras and how lucky she was to be able to afford one of them, we were really shocked, especially when she said many women can't afford them."

"Nat shaved her head in December and we joined her but we knew we wanted to do more so decided to organise a Jiu Jitsu v Cancer event.

"The Andy Nugent's Academy, a martial arts centre in Stevenage, helped us put it on. 100 people attended and we had incredible instructors from Bristol, Birmingham and Southampton. We are really happy to have raised funds for these special bras for women that need them."

Natalie, who works at Lonsdale School in Stevenage, a school for children with complex needs, added: "The Reco bras are essential, and I was motivated to raise funds so that others could have them too. 

"Wearing a reconstructive bra makes you feel so much better. Hair will grow back but losing a breast is really hard physically, but also mentally."

Eloise Huddleston, director of East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity which supports Lister Hospital, New QEII Hospital, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood and Hertford County Hospital said: "Thank you so much to Natalie and her brothers for raising funds to help women going through breast cancer treatment. 

"This is an incredible amount to have raised and it will help so many women who have had breast cancer surgery and perhaps can't afford to buy a specialist bra themselves. 

"As Natalie said, losing a breast is incredibly upsetting but these bras can really help women feel a bit more like their old selves. They will make such a difference. Thank you on behalf of all the women your kindness will help."

 The Andy Nugent's Academy, a martial arts centre in Stevenage, helped raise money for the cause. CREDIT:: East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity