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The Cardrona Valley Bra Fence

By Kelly Spaans

Thanks for helping raise vital funds for breast cancer education, research and patient support.

The Bra Fence began at some point between Christmas 1998 and New Year 1999, when four bras were attached to the wire fence alongside the road. The original reason for the bras being attached to the fence is unknown. News spread of the addition, which was left on the fence by the local landowners, and more bras began to appear. By the end of February there were some 60 bras, but at about this time they were all removed anonymously. This was reported in the local press, and the story gained widespread dissemination through the New Zealand media, leading to more bras appearing.

By October 2000, the number of bras had reached around 200, and again the fence was cleared of bras. This time the story spread even wider, as the fence had become to some a quirky tourist attraction, and media sources from as far afield as Europe became interested in the fence. Due to this interest, the number of bras being added to the fence personally, or sent to be added, increased dramatically. In early 2006, the number of bras attached to the fence stood at close to 800.

Although some locals welcomed the fence and regarded it as a tourist attraction, others viewed it as an eyesore and embarrassment, and as a potential hazard to drivers using the road. Frequent legal attempts were consequently made to see it removed. These attempts increased in early 2006, accompanied by a further removal of some 200 of the bras. 

However, local sheep farmer John Lee, who had become the unofficial guardian of the site, refused to remove the bras from the fence, claiming that 90% of letters received about the fence were positive, and that the bras were the most photographed attraction in the area.

On 28 April 2006, after discovering the fence rested on public road reserve, the local Council determined the bra fence was a "traffic hazard" and an "eyesore", and ordered the bras on the fence to be removed.

In November 2014, a local Cardrona tour guide decided to take voluntary guardianship of the fence after it had been stripped by anonymous people on a number of occasions. They shifted the fence from beside the Cardrona Valley Road to their private driveway about 100 metres away from its original spot. A pink sign and a collection box were put up in March 2015 to help raise funds for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. The area is playfully called "Bradrona".

Since then, the bra fence has raised thousands of dollars for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, to help support the more than 3,500 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year in New Zealand. 

By donating to the fence, you’re helping fund –

1. Ground-breaking projects by some of our countries top researchers

2. Education about breast health, the importance of regular screening and the signs and symptoms of breast cancer

3. Free support services for breast cancer patients and their families

Donate today to help make zero deaths from breast cancer a reality.

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$166,879

My Goal

$200,000

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Thank you to my Sponsors

$10.60

Jake Lane

$21.20

Aj

$6.36

Anonymous

happiness is our medicine

$21.20

Anonymous

$28.62

Precres Salazar

$28.62

Andrea Fama

$28.62

Anonymous

$5.30

Anonymous

$28.62

Anonymous

$5.30

Anonymous

$28.62

Anonymous

$10.60

Anonymous

$28.62

Anonymous

$10.60

Anonymous

$28.62

Nalinee Montreewiwat

$28.62

Megan Freeman

$28.62

Gina Wood

$10.60

Bryony Board

$5.30

Xuyang Chen

$28.62

Harold Roberts

Wonderful fundraising effort! Fcancer!

$55.12

Annie Tennant

$10.60

Clare Burrough

$28.62

Anonymous

$10.60

Lilian Esan

$10

Pratha Aggarwal

Love the moment and the awareness, hope this small donation helps in some way

$28.62

Ash Gray

$28.62

Anonymous

$93.28

Natalie Leitner

$28.62

Anonymous

$10.60

Anonymous

$5

Kiran Rajput

Loved the message

$5

Anonymous

$28.62

Jennie Beltz

$208

Alicia Wiker

$5.30

Anonymous

$5.30

Anonymous

$27

Amy

Donation made in honor of Female Docs With Cancer

$21.20

Anonymous

$10.60

Kaja Hunsicker

$10.60

Denise Skeffington

Thanks for this. My sister had a mastectomy today and this really made feel connected

$21.20

Tim Webb

$10.60

Anonymous

$10.60

Dervla Murphy

$28.62

Craig & Shannen

$28.62

Terence O'brien

$10.60

Anonymous

fighting

$56.18

Anonymous

$10.60

Anonymous

Good luck with your fight. Stay strong 💪

$27

Anonymous

$5.30

Anonymous

$10.60

Ken Blades

Well done keep up the DD efforts!

$21.20

Anonymous

$10.40

Anonymous

Our mom had breastcancer. Luckely She healed from it. Forever gratefull for foundations like these!

$21.20

Adam Swarbrick

$10.60

Anonymous

$28.62

Ronika Cunningham

$28.08

Mafalda Allocca

From Cardrona with love and support.

$20

Anonymous

$53

Anonymous

$150.90

Donations From Fence

$5.31k

Donations From Fence

$26.70

Donations From Fence

$4.68k

Donations From Fence

$11

Donations From Fence

$1.48k

Donations From Fence

$318.80

Donations From Fence

$1.17k

Donations From Fence

$315

Donations From Fence

$855.50

Donations From Fence

$26.54

Donations From Fence

$1.28k

Donations From Fence

$1.79k

Donations From Fence

$1.38k

Donations From Fence

$890.30

Donations From Fence

$3.05k

Donations From Fence

$4.16k

Donations From Fence

$4.73k

Donations From Fence

$6.36k

Donations From Fence

$10

Anonymous

$4.51k

Anonymous

$5

Anju Jacob

I support for breast cancer society

$5

Kristine Browning

Donating for all the people who are affected by breast cancer including my aunt and mom.

$15

Donations From Fence

$20

Anonymous

$10

Anonymous

$10

Anonymous

$15

Saurav

$10

Anonymous

$10

Anonymous

$27

Anonymous

$27

Anonymous

$27

Nuwan

All the best

$17.53k

Donations From Fence

$10

Anonymous

$10

Anonymous

$27

Stephanie

In memory of our loving friend Janelle who lost her battle

$27

Anonymous

$53

Anonymous

$27

Anonymous

$10

M.lee

A silly story to start a great cause it lead to. Nothing is ever silly it's what we make of it.

$255

Donations From Fence

$15

Anonymous

$10

Anonymous

$53

Caliyah B

Giving you comfort in your journey! Praying for you all.

$10

Anonymous

$20

Sourav Debnath

No more cancer

$20

Anonymous

$3.88k

Donations From Fence

$850.30

Donations From Fence

$19.04

Donations From Fence

$4.43k

Donations From Fence

$323.22

Donations From Fence

$10.56

Donations From Fence

$820.40

Donations From Fence

$10.19

Donations From Fence

$1.03k

Donations From Fence

$76.60

Donations From Fence

$4.82k

Donations From Fence

$3.08k

Donations From Fence

$4.51k

Donations From Fence

$69.89

Donations From Fence

$356.83

Donations From Fence

$4.17k

Donations From Fence

$3.86k

Donations From Fence

$27

Donations From Fence

$60

Donations From Fence

$1,000

Donations From Fence

$10

Donations From Fence

$35

Donations From Fence

$215

Donations From Fence

$790

Donations From Fence

$5.79k

Donations From Fence

$11.57k

Donations From Fence

$8.86k

Donations From Fence

$779.50

Donations From Fence

$4.06k

Donations From Fence

$320

Donations From Fence

$20

Donations From Fence

$5

Donations From Fence

$5

Donations From Fence

$9.55k

Donations From Fence

$3.43k

Donations From Fence

$10

Donations From Fence

$20

Donations From Fence

$5.36

Donations From Fence

$407.40

Donations From Fence

$1.2k

Donations From Fence

$6.42k

Donations From Fence

$46.22

Donations From Fence

$1.32k

Donations From Fence

$262

Donations From Fence

$38.70

Donations From Fence

$70.50

Donations From Fence

$110.40

Donations From Fence

$410

Donations From Fence

$1

Donations From Fence

$423

Donations From Fence

$116

Donations From Fence

$155.50

Donations From Fence

$184.10

Donations From Fence

$164.80

Donations From Fence

$219.90

Donations From Fence

$601.20

Donations From Fence

$10.37

Donations From Fence

$13.69

Donations From Fence

$4.03k

Donations From Fence

$25

Donations From Fence

$200

Donations From Fence

$4.53k

Donations From Fence

$142.68

Donations From Fence

$3.64

Donations From Fence

$1.38k

Donations From Fence

$35.75

Donations From Fence

$2.14k

Donations From Fence

$165

Donations From Fence

$653.67

Donations From Fence

$27

Frankie

Keep Going

$5

Varsha Patel

I will personally pray for good health those who are suffering from breast cancer. And will also pray that no one has to face it

$10

Anonymous

$27

Anonymous

$27

Emer & Eoin

Keep up the good fight!!

$30

Anonymous

$5

Anonymous

$53

Anonymous

$5

Anonymous

$21

Edona Merle Jule

stay strong

$10

Anonymous

$10

Ivy Burgess

Kia kaha wahine toa

$53

Anonymous

$27

Anonymous

$5

Anonymous

$5

Jane

Thank you for your support for this cause

$27

Donna

Thanks for your great work supporting breast cancer patients