Events Photography: Launch for breast cancer charity

Events Photography for Walk the Walk charity

What I really love about my job is its unpredictability, especially when it comes to events photography. This time I was asked to cover the launch event for the ‘Bust Up’ exhibition at the Lightbox in Woking. The event was organised for the breast cancer charity ‘Walk the Walk’. This charity is well known for organising the world famous moon walks. Participants power walk at least a half marathon through capital cities whilst wearing decorated bras. All to raise money for research into causes of breast cancer.

The Walk the Walk Charity

Walk the Walk felt that it should do something quite special to celebrate it’s 21st birthday, so decided to stage an exhibition at the iconic Lightbox in Woking. The Lightbox is an art gallery and museum dubbed one of the most exciting spaces of its kind in the South East. It opened in 2007 and was designed by architects Marks Barfield who were also responsible for the London Eye. It is a very striking building lying between the main Victoria Way and the Basingstoke Canal. In 2008 it won the Arts fund museum of the year and in 2016 was awarded a green tourism silver award.

Nina Barough CBE founded ‘Walk the Walk’ in 1996 from a desk in the Playtex offices in Woking. The idea was originally to power walk the New York City marathon in bras as a one off event to raise money for breast cancer. Walk the Walk is still based in Woking, hence the exhibition being held in the town. Ironically, following the success of the idea, Nina herself was diagnosed with the disease. Following a lot of treatment and surgery Nina has gone from strength to strength and has led the charity in raising more than £121 million over the years.

The ‘Bust Up’ Exhibition at the Lightbox

Walk the Walk felt that it would be most fitting to exhibit some of their trademark decorated bras in the exhibition. There are seven bras in total and each have a direct connection to Woking.

Mclaren created the Formula 1 bra
Michael Condron created the ‘War of the Worlds’ Bra
Hanesbrands created the Wonderbra
Allen Carr bra was created by Julien Macdonald OBE
The Lightbox bra was created by Woking college students Téa Breeze Harwood and Sophie Milne
Meccanica created the Jason Kenny OBE bra
Jeff Banks CBE created the Rock n Roll bra

Sculptor Michael Condron created the most striking bra which was designed around the martian technology described in H G Wells novel, who also happened to be an inhabitant of Woking for a time. Michael was also responsible for sculpting the famous martian which adorns a part of Crown Square.

I was also struck by the Rock ‘n’ Roll bra which is based on a theme of ‘Rockin’ All Over the World’. The inspiration for this was taken from a photograph of Eric Clapton (another local resident) standing in front of a bank of guitars in his home studio. Jeff featured some of the world’s most iconic guitars in his creation.

The exhibition ran from the 3rd to the 15th October.