Pinktober: thousands of donated bras hang on lines in Wuppertal and Koblenz
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, initiatives in Wuppertal and Koblenz are stringing donated bras across squares and streets to promote screening and early detection.
Symbolic image · Photo: unbekannt / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (cropped and resized)
The bra as a message: during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, initiatives in cities including Wuppertal and Koblenz are drawing attention to the disease with lingerie installations. In Wuppertal, the self-help group “breast friends forever” at the Helios hospital has, since 5 October, been hanging thousands of donated bras on washing lines at the Platz am Kolk in Elberfeld. It is supported by the city's office for equality and anti-discrimination and partners, and the project repeats last year's. The installation is meant to draw attention to screening and early detection.
“It is our heart project,” said Erminia Pavlatou of the self-help group. Martina Völker, deputy head of the city office, stressed the importance of informing people and raising awareness about breast cancer as early as possible. Wuppertal's programme also includes pink lighting, a cinema and information evening on 14 October and the YouTube series “Das pinke Sofa”.
Thousands of pink bras are once again strung above Koblenz's old town as well. The initiative “Koblenz wird pink” has existed since 2018; this year's campaign opened on 2 October outside a lingerie shop on Marktstraße, with Lord Mayor David Langner as patron. “The bra campaign is a very special moment for us every year,” said managing director Katja Stein.