T-shirts raise $760,000 for breast cancer research

Zambesi's Elisabeth Findlay (left) and Huffer's Steve Dunstan show off their T-shirt contributions. Picture / Martin Sykes

Put top New Zealand fashion designers in a chainstore and what do you get?

A large sum of money for breast cancer research.

Glassons announced yesterday that it had raised $760,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Trust after selling a record 76,000 T-shirts.

The T-shirts featured designs by Karen Walker, Zambesi, Trelise Cooper, Huffer, Tanya Carlson and Kate Sylvester.

The store donated $10 from the sale of each $29.95 tee to the breast cancer trust.

The number of T-shirts sold far surpassed numbers in two previous years of the campaign, which raised $510,000 last year and $330,000 in 2003.

"Each year it gets better," Glassons group managing director Cliff Kinraid said.

Mr Kinraid said the response this year had been phenomenal, with 20,000 T-shirts selling in the campaign's first three days in February.

Breast Cancer Research Trust chairwoman Mimi Lloyd said the trust was delighted.

"We can now support breast cancer researchers and projects New Zealand-wide, and speed up the battle to fight the epidemic rate of breast cancer in New Zealand women of all ages."

New Zealand has one of the highest rates in the world. The disease affects one in 10 women and claims 600 lives every year.

Money donated from Glassons last year allowed the trust to employ breast cancer researcher Dr Nicole McCarthy.

New research projects will be funded with this year's money.

The designers who created the six T-shirts said they were happy to help.

Zambesi's Liz Findlay said it was great to contribute to a campaign that raised both awareness of breast cancer and money for research.

Her store in Vulcan Lane, Auckland, is selling a $140 limited edition version of the Zambesi fringed T-shirt that appeared in Glassons.

Partial proceeds will be donated to the breast cancer trust.

Huffer director Steven Dunstan said his team had enjoyed creating their elephant-design tee. "It's all about trying to help a good cause."

Glassons said the designs, which included ballerinas by Trelise Cooper and flowers by Karen Walker, sold equally well over a wide age range.