So, who are “we” and how did “Breasts Reunited” start.
We are a registered charity: www.crazyhatsbreastcancerappeal.co.uk based in Northamptonshire raising funds to support breast cancer care in the county. We also raise money to support the plastic surgery department at Leicester Royal Infirmary where many ladies from the area go to have the more complex procedures carried out i.e. (TRAM and DIEP).
Support for Leicester came about when the charity’s founder Glennis Hooper had her breast reconstructed at the Royal following treatment for breast cancer. Glennis became friendly with Claire Porter (Sister on the Kinmonth Unit where breast reconstruction patients stay after surgery) and after a cheque presentation one day the two of them were chatting.
Claire: “Wouldn’t it be lovely Glennis to see you ladies after your surgery when you’re looking good and feeling so much better?”
Glennis: “Yes, it would be a bit like Friends.....”
Claire/Glennis: “Not friends, but Breasts, Breasts Reunited!”
And so, Breasts Reunited was born with Claire and Glennis together organising a black-tie fundraising evening at the Tigers Rugby Ground back in 2006. So successful was the evening that a 4 th event is currently being organised.
Fundraising for the department continued with Crazy Hats supporting
- funds for information leaflets about breast reconstruction written by Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Mr S.K. Varma and his colleague Mr Marcus Wagstaff
- funds to support an informative DVD about Breast Reconstruction at LRI
- funds to set up and support a nipple tattooing service at LRI together with screens and hi-tech camera equipment
- medical equipment for the Kinmonth Unit and high quality prints to adorn the single bedded rooms following its recent refurbishment
- funding to support the production of this website
- funding to produce a 2 nd edition of the first DVD
Our charity is proud to support such a skilled and dedicated team of medical professionals at LRI who work so hard and with so much personal care for its patients whose lives have been transformed by having their breasts reunited.
More recently, the charity is delighted to be able to support the plastic surgery teams at both Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals where breast reconstruction procedures using the LD implants are performed.
We hope the website will give a clear picture about breast reconstruction procedures at the three hospitals we support.
We are keen to hear your stories and we hope you will use the on-line chat facilities with medical personnel and the on-line forum whereby you can liaise with like-minded people and share your stories and questions.
This is your website!