Janine GriffithsFor too many women, breast cancer remains wrapped in silence and stigma. In Harehills, a group of women decided to change that. Not with leaflets or lectures, but with paintbrushes, laughter and artwork that celebrated survival, sisterhood and self-care.
The Support reimagined: Bra art and breast health sessions offered something more than just a workshop. It offered women from across East Leeds the chance to learn, share and create in a space designed for honesty, empowerment and solidarity.
The sessions were held at the Thackray Museum of Medicine and brought together women from diverse backgrounds to share experiences and access vital health information about breast cancer awareness.
In the final session held on October 29th, attendees also got a chance to get creative and decorate bras using upcycled materials, all in a bid to make discussing breast health a normal part of everyday life.
Natalie Tharraleos, from Harehills Action Team is one of the organisers of the event. She explained that the sessions provided a safe space for women to come together and talk openly about breast cancer in a way that may have felt ‘taboo’ before.
“It’s really about encouraging questions and creating a way for institutions like the health system to connect with the community and there just aren’t enough places like that,” she explained, adding: “I think there was an amazing mix of people in the room, all with different perspectives, skills, and levels of experience to share with one another.”
This environment allowed for powerful, life-affirming conversations. As co-organiser Goodness Woodhead, founder of Esustainable Fashion in Harehills observed, the presence of survivors was key to changing the narrative. She said: “When you see people who have survived breast cancer, you realise that a diagnosis is not the end and if you check your breast for the signs of breast cancer early enough, the chances of survival is higher.
“I feel like the most important thing for me is to create a safe space where women can be informed and shown how they can look after themselves. Even if we save one person and somebody goes to check their breasts as a result of these sessions, they have increased their chance of survival and that’s what it’s about for us.”
However, she added that there needs to be more awareness raising events in the local community. She explained: “I wish we had more events like this in the community. The more we create spaces for people to talk and share, the better. Even though we’ve come here for breast cancer awareness, it’s really about coming together and supporting one another.
“I think it’s just lovely to see how happy everyone is. It feels like people are really talking and connecting today. Coming out here has given us a chance to chat with different people, something that doesn’t always happen at home.”
Lucy Couth, a project manager from Yorkshire Cancer Research, echoed her sentiment. For her, the sessions captured something rare and powerful: joy and openness in the face of fear. “It’s such an amazing opportunity for women to gather together and share their experiences,” she explained, adding. “People have been really open and honest about their own lives – sharing difficult stories in a really positive and encouraging way.”
Yet, the sense of community and empowerment stood in stark contrast to the barriers many attendees described facing in the wider healthcare system. The need for such a space was underscored by the testimonials of women who had encountered significant obstacles, including racial bias and dismissive treatment, revealing that the fight against breast cancer is also a fight for equitable and respectful care for all.
Researcher Emily Lunn, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 39, also attended the event. Supported by Yorkshire Cancer Research, she leads several projects tackling health inequalities in cancer diagnosis and has collaborated with the charity to develop a snakes and ladders–style game that uses play to spark meaningful conversations about unequal access to healthcare. She said deep-rooted barriers remain, with women from some communities feeling unable to talk about breast cancer openly.“I really want to normalise the conversations, so it’s not just about women playing the game.” she explained, adding: “Anyone can play this game, and by encouraging conversations about breast screening and other health checks as a normal part of everyday life, it can help reduce the stigma and increase attendance.” She added that there is still a long way to go to make these services culturally appropriate for all communities.
According to Emily, younger women also often face barriers and healthcare inequalities, and are sometimes dismissed due to their age, “When I was diagnosed, I’d had previous lumps, and I was overly reassured each time that it was normal. So when this diagnosis came, I wasn’t expecting it at all. For a while, I was in denial throughout treatment, thinking, ‘Why me?’”
“I ended up doing a lot of research to understand why this was happening. Finding answers didn’t change what happened, but gaining that knowledge really helped me come to terms with it. I think breast cancer is on the rise in younger women, and we don’t fully know why yet. It may be linked to lifestyle factors, like diet and the prevalence of processed foods in our environment.”
By combining art, storytelling, and health education, the sessions offered a new model for community health engagement – one that feels less like a clinic and more like a conversation among friends.
