Cancer fight's clothing banks boost (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Cancer fight's clothing boost in Heaton, Bingley, Thornton, Undercliffe, Idle and Shipley

8:36am Friday 1st April 2011 in Bradford By Claire Lomax

A charity which supports cancer patients and their families across the district is turning rags into riches after successfully introducing clothing banks as a money raising venture.

Cancer Support Bradford and Airedale put in place its first three clothing banks at locations across the district six weeks ago and has all ready banked its first cheque for £1,200 – enough to pay for support for five cancer patients for a year.

And after appealing in the Telegraph & Argus for more locations to place clothing banks, a further three have been put in at Haworth Road Methodist Church, Haworth Road, Heaton, Little House car park, Market Street, Bingley and the Magistrates’ Court car park, Bradford Road, Bingley.

By the end of this month the independent charity will have 14 clothing banks out across the district at venues including Keelham Farm shop car park, Brighouse and Denholme Road, Thornton, the Al Mahdi Mosque in Rees Way, Undercliffe and Killips Carpets in Briggate, Shipley.

The first three clothing banks are at the charity’s headquarters, Daisy House Farm, Smith Lane, Bradford, at B&Q on the M606 and at Dunnes in Idle.

Cancer Support Bradford and Airedale entered into a partnership with a recycling company in Manchester to place a total of 20 clothing banks and venues are still being sought.

Hayley Collis, corporate fundraiser for the independent charity, said: “We now have proof these clothing banks do make a difference.

“We receive £500 for every tonne donated and this could mean £10,000 a year for the charity, a big help when we need it due to cuts in our funding that are coming up.”

The recycling company only deals with charities which raise money locally and spend it locally, making Cancer Support Bradford and Airedale an ideal charity to team up with.

Hayley added: “We need everything from your old socks and underwear, paint rags, to shoes and handbags. Everything is sorted by hand and the rags are shredded and used in other industries and the good quality clothing is sold on in Europe.”

If you can help, call (01274) 776688 or e-mail hayley.collis@ bradford cancersupport.org. uk

• Read the full story in Friday's T&A