“Pants” have been strung up throughout a village to help save lives.
West Sussex Federation of Women’s Institutes has embarked on a campaign to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and has hung up “panty bunting” in Storrington’s shop windows, the church, the surgery, the library and other buildings for March.
The innovative bunting, made by Sullington Windmills and West Chiltington WIs, is part of a WI initiative to make women more aware of the need for early diagnosis of the cancer.
“We say ‘pants to ovarian cancer’,” said Erika Brichta, chairwoman of the federation.
“Between 2016 and 2018 there were 7,495 new cases of ovarian cancer in the UK.
“Between 2017 and 2019 there were 4,142 deaths from this form of cancer.
“If caught early it is treatable and we want to make more women aware of the symptoms and to seek help from their GPs.
“The support received from businesses in Storrington has been amazing and overwhelming. If we can save one life, it will have been worth the effort.”
Ms Brichta said the village ahs been fully supportive of the campaign and explained how the group came up with the idea.
“As well as being the federation chair for West Sussex I am also president of Sullington Windmills WI in Storrington," she said.
“Last year one of my members was diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer and urged me to think of ways we could promote awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. I thought up the panty bunting idea, made some, got the thumbs up that it was a good idea and we agreed to put an information leaflet together as well.
“The reaction in Storrington has been truly amazing and overwhelmingly supportive from the parish council, the surgery, shops and businesses and even the church.”
The campaign is also supported by WIs across West Sussex this month, and Ms Brichta hopes to see the bunting fluttering throughout the county.
So far, there is bunting in other parts of the county including in Horsham, Felpham, Rustington and East Preston.
Ms Brichta is also walking 100km for Ovarian Cancer Action during March and has already raised over £700 for research.
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