World's Longest Bra Chain
Donation protected
Hi, I'm Caryn Thomas and I am attempting (for the second and FINAL time) to break the world record of the 'World's Longest Bra Chain' in support of the prevention and early detection of cancer within youth.
This has been a personal quest of mine for over 7 years now and one that is very close to my heart. Originally I began this journey supporting the Cancer Council, as my family had 6 members diagnosed with cancer in one year, breast, prostate, and melanoma.
Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful in my first attempt to break the record, however, in my fundraising efforts, I did manage to raise huge amounts of awareness and over $30,000 for the Cancer Council.
As you can imagine I was devastated to find out, just one week prior, that not all the pledged bras would reach me in time for our official chaining day. I was so upset, but at myself, as ultimately this fell on me.
When I started this journey, I now know I was really flying blind and just following the opportunities that presented themselves. Now 4 years on from my first official attempt, I have taken a step back from the bra stack and have reassessed my motivation to undertake this massive mission one last time. I have evaluated what worked and what didn't and I have identified what I need to make sure I break the world record and achieve the goals set when doing so.
During this time I have also commenced my MBA (due to finish in March 2018) and have very clear strategic and business plans, incorporating all required resources and the costs involved to achieve this dream of mine.
So... here I am, with a very detailed, transparent plan I am asking for help. Your help!
Can you help me break the world record of the 'World's Longest Bra Chain'?
***
My personal motivation to continue with this quest is now for my children and your children. My children have 6 family members that have been impacted by cancer.
During my time bra collecting, I came across a nurse visiting a school, speaking with the children about the importance of knowing your family history, showing them how to do a self breast check, understanding what is a normal bodily change as they go through puberty and sharing with them how they can live a healthier life, reducing their chances of being diagnosed with cancer and other diseases.
To say she was brilliant would be an understatement. She was a McGrath Foundation Nurse and it had taken 4 years for her to be able to visit this school, as she is just so busy caring for the ill and doing her educational work as well.
It is this program that I have chosen to make my financial beneficiary, with my second attempt at the world record.
Finally, I have come to realise that my first unsuccessful attempt was not a failure. I truly believe it is now the greatest thing that could have happened, as now I know what I can achieve with just sheer passion and a small, but dedicated team of Bra Army volunteers.
This second and final attempt will also hopefully show my children and so many others that you only fail if you quit... and I am not quitting!
Persistence, Resilience, and Perseverance are great drivers and myself and my Bra Army have them all.
***
The core mission is the same as the first attempt, with the same four key initiatives plus one more;
1. Raise much-needed funding for cancer prevention and early detection, this time specifically within our youth, by supporting the McGrath Foundation 'Curve Lurve' program.
2. Break the world record, and leverage the event to gain as much exposure as possible for the other initiatives.
3. Support Australian businesses that offer their support by either registering as official, bra donation, collection point or sponsoring my attempt and the other events and activities organised by MY LIFE. MY STYLE and The 'ME' Movement. Heaven knows that times are tough and the economy is struggling, so let's get behind those that think like we do.
4. Donate the wearable bras, after we break the record, to those less fortunate than us both here at home or abroad.
5. Create a social movement for those in the community that feel a pull towards what it is I am trying to achieve, and those that are looking for a group of like-minded individuals they can connect with and feel like they are apart of something bigger than themselves. An environment to support and inspire and feel supported and inspired by, through discovering their own 'purpose' in life.
****
As you can see there are so many that will benefit from my world record attempt to date so many have and I hope that there will be so many more as I bring this home.
But I can't do this alone...
If you would like to help me break this world record, and donate, I will not only be eternally grateful for your support but I will offer you many gifts of appreciation in return.
The money that I am hoping to raise through my 'Go Fund Me' campaign will be used for the back end administration and management of my world record attempt.
Please note this is a non-exhaustive list... as opportunities arise from PR campaigns etc, it is amazing what I find I end up spending money on.
* Graphic design artwork
* Promotional materials i.e. 'Don't dump it' fridge magnets, flyers, bra donation collection point posters etc
* Facebook advertising for bra collecting event promotion
* Software programs like Canva, Meetup, Pic Monkey, LiveChat, Website plugins etc.
* Administration support (there are only so many hours in a day, so occasionally I need to grow extra hands haha)
* Public Liability Insurance for my events
* Hire equipment i.e. chairs, tables, clothing racks etc
* Signage
* Trailer hire for large bra collections
* Postage and freight costs
* Website SEO
* the list goes on...
As these are all ongoing expenses there is no real end date of when I need support, it started 7 years ago, I just didn't know it back then. So your support today or tomorrow will be of a huge benefit to myself and the outcome of the fundraising initiative.
***
Appreciation Gifts
Firstly there is no set amount and second, please know that any and all donations are received with lots of love and gratitude.
All donors become an official member of the Bra Army :)
Individual donators
$25 donations - a ticket to the upcoming Spring Clothing Exchange event, 8th October 2017*
(FYI - I host 4 major events each year)
$97 donations - an annual membership to The 'ME' Movement
and of course lots of good karma :)
Business donators
$97 RUBY donations - 12 month 'Little Black Business Book' advertising listing, guest blogging opportunities in our Life + Style Blog, promotion via our social media platforms and your logo and website (or social media link) included on our Bra Army supporter page
$197 SAPPHIRE donations - Above + Feature Article in an edition of the Juicy News monthly eNews and 1-month website banner advertising
$397 EMERALD donations - Above + 3 months website banner advertising
Our business friends also receive lots of good karma too :)
We do also have a Bra Army Corporate Partner for those organisations wishing to make a larger contribution to the world record attempt. To find out more please contact me (Caryn Thomas) for details.
WOW! Well if you have made it this far, then I thank you already. Thank you for the opportunity to share with you my passion, my purpose and my mission.
I'll be honest, there is also a selfish personal motivator here also, as nothing in my life (other than creating a human) has ever brought me so much joy. The amazing cancer survivors I have met, the experiences I have enjoyed (like rolling out over 70,000 bras along the Brisbane river) and the examples of pure kindness and generosity that I see day in day out, makes me feel so lucky to be in the position I am, working on this project.
So thank you... not only for what your support will do for our children as they live a healthier, cancer-free life, the businesses we will promote as they support and collect for us, those that will receive bras, after this is all over, that they couldn't afford due to unfortunate circumstances. And those that get to be apart of a community and feel they belong, but also for what it is doing for me. And that is making my dreams come true.
Wishing you an abundant 'on purpose' life,
Caryn x
* T&C's please note event specific gifts of appreciation are for the ticket to the event only, transportation and all other associated costs are at your own expense.
Please be sure to include your contact details with your donation so I can get in touch and show my gratitude.
This has been a personal quest of mine for over 7 years now and one that is very close to my heart. Originally I began this journey supporting the Cancer Council, as my family had 6 members diagnosed with cancer in one year, breast, prostate, and melanoma.
Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful in my first attempt to break the record, however, in my fundraising efforts, I did manage to raise huge amounts of awareness and over $30,000 for the Cancer Council.
As you can imagine I was devastated to find out, just one week prior, that not all the pledged bras would reach me in time for our official chaining day. I was so upset, but at myself, as ultimately this fell on me.
When I started this journey, I now know I was really flying blind and just following the opportunities that presented themselves. Now 4 years on from my first official attempt, I have taken a step back from the bra stack and have reassessed my motivation to undertake this massive mission one last time. I have evaluated what worked and what didn't and I have identified what I need to make sure I break the world record and achieve the goals set when doing so.
During this time I have also commenced my MBA (due to finish in March 2018) and have very clear strategic and business plans, incorporating all required resources and the costs involved to achieve this dream of mine.
So... here I am, with a very detailed, transparent plan I am asking for help. Your help!
Can you help me break the world record of the 'World's Longest Bra Chain'?
***
My personal motivation to continue with this quest is now for my children and your children. My children have 6 family members that have been impacted by cancer.
During my time bra collecting, I came across a nurse visiting a school, speaking with the children about the importance of knowing your family history, showing them how to do a self breast check, understanding what is a normal bodily change as they go through puberty and sharing with them how they can live a healthier life, reducing their chances of being diagnosed with cancer and other diseases.
To say she was brilliant would be an understatement. She was a McGrath Foundation Nurse and it had taken 4 years for her to be able to visit this school, as she is just so busy caring for the ill and doing her educational work as well.
It is this program that I have chosen to make my financial beneficiary, with my second attempt at the world record.
Finally, I have come to realise that my first unsuccessful attempt was not a failure. I truly believe it is now the greatest thing that could have happened, as now I know what I can achieve with just sheer passion and a small, but dedicated team of Bra Army volunteers.
This second and final attempt will also hopefully show my children and so many others that you only fail if you quit... and I am not quitting!
Persistence, Resilience, and Perseverance are great drivers and myself and my Bra Army have them all.
***
The core mission is the same as the first attempt, with the same four key initiatives plus one more;
1. Raise much-needed funding for cancer prevention and early detection, this time specifically within our youth, by supporting the McGrath Foundation 'Curve Lurve' program.
2. Break the world record, and leverage the event to gain as much exposure as possible for the other initiatives.
3. Support Australian businesses that offer their support by either registering as official, bra donation, collection point or sponsoring my attempt and the other events and activities organised by MY LIFE. MY STYLE and The 'ME' Movement. Heaven knows that times are tough and the economy is struggling, so let's get behind those that think like we do.
4. Donate the wearable bras, after we break the record, to those less fortunate than us both here at home or abroad.
5. Create a social movement for those in the community that feel a pull towards what it is I am trying to achieve, and those that are looking for a group of like-minded individuals they can connect with and feel like they are apart of something bigger than themselves. An environment to support and inspire and feel supported and inspired by, through discovering their own 'purpose' in life.
****
As you can see there are so many that will benefit from my world record attempt to date so many have and I hope that there will be so many more as I bring this home.
But I can't do this alone...
If you would like to help me break this world record, and donate, I will not only be eternally grateful for your support but I will offer you many gifts of appreciation in return.
The money that I am hoping to raise through my 'Go Fund Me' campaign will be used for the back end administration and management of my world record attempt.
Please note this is a non-exhaustive list... as opportunities arise from PR campaigns etc, it is amazing what I find I end up spending money on.
* Graphic design artwork
* Promotional materials i.e. 'Don't dump it' fridge magnets, flyers, bra donation collection point posters etc
* Facebook advertising for bra collecting event promotion
* Software programs like Canva, Meetup, Pic Monkey, LiveChat, Website plugins etc.
* Administration support (there are only so many hours in a day, so occasionally I need to grow extra hands haha)
* Public Liability Insurance for my events
* Hire equipment i.e. chairs, tables, clothing racks etc
* Signage
* Trailer hire for large bra collections
* Postage and freight costs
* Website SEO
* the list goes on...
As these are all ongoing expenses there is no real end date of when I need support, it started 7 years ago, I just didn't know it back then. So your support today or tomorrow will be of a huge benefit to myself and the outcome of the fundraising initiative.
***
Appreciation Gifts
Firstly there is no set amount and second, please know that any and all donations are received with lots of love and gratitude.
All donors become an official member of the Bra Army :)
Individual donators
$25 donations - a ticket to the upcoming Spring Clothing Exchange event, 8th October 2017*
(FYI - I host 4 major events each year)
$97 donations - an annual membership to The 'ME' Movement
and of course lots of good karma :)
Business donators
$97 RUBY donations - 12 month 'Little Black Business Book' advertising listing, guest blogging opportunities in our Life + Style Blog, promotion via our social media platforms and your logo and website (or social media link) included on our Bra Army supporter page
$197 SAPPHIRE donations - Above + Feature Article in an edition of the Juicy News monthly eNews and 1-month website banner advertising
$397 EMERALD donations - Above + 3 months website banner advertising
Our business friends also receive lots of good karma too :)
We do also have a Bra Army Corporate Partner for those organisations wishing to make a larger contribution to the world record attempt. To find out more please contact me (Caryn Thomas) for details.
WOW! Well if you have made it this far, then I thank you already. Thank you for the opportunity to share with you my passion, my purpose and my mission.
I'll be honest, there is also a selfish personal motivator here also, as nothing in my life (other than creating a human) has ever brought me so much joy. The amazing cancer survivors I have met, the experiences I have enjoyed (like rolling out over 70,000 bras along the Brisbane river) and the examples of pure kindness and generosity that I see day in day out, makes me feel so lucky to be in the position I am, working on this project.
So thank you... not only for what your support will do for our children as they live a healthier, cancer-free life, the businesses we will promote as they support and collect for us, those that will receive bras, after this is all over, that they couldn't afford due to unfortunate circumstances. And those that get to be apart of a community and feel they belong, but also for what it is doing for me. And that is making my dreams come true.
Wishing you an abundant 'on purpose' life,
Caryn x
* T&C's please note event specific gifts of appreciation are for the ticket to the event only, transportation and all other associated costs are at your own expense.
Please be sure to include your contact details with your donation so I can get in touch and show my gratitude.
Organiser
Caryn Thomas
Organiser
