A BREAST cancer survivor is bringing a special event to Furness in the hopes of empowering other women who are living with the disease, to feel more body-confident.

Following her own battle with breast cancer, Vanessa Willison-Pirie, 52, organised a series of events aimed at helping women, both pre and post surgery, to find bras which can fit their changing shape, and have these fitted by specialist staff at Marks and Spencer.

Now, Mrs Willison-Pirie, who works as a bra fitter at the Lancaster branch, is bringing the unique event to Barrow's Dalton road next week, following calls from a number of Barrow residents who are keen to attend.

She said: We are having a bra fitting event where we open the store after hours and ladies who are post surgery, or who have just been diagnosed can come into the store and we look after them, we fit them with post surgery bras and make them feel good.

"I have gone through this myself as I have had a double mastectomy.

"I wanted ladies to have somewhere where they can be fitted properly.

"It's a real positive event, we look after all the ladies on the night and it's a chance for them to talk to each other, help each other and share stories.

"We've already done three in Lancaster and it's a real positive experience."

As well as having experienced bra fitters on hand for specialist help and advice, makeup artists will be there stacked with products from the Look Good, Feel Better range.

Store manager Simon Craig is championing the event and he said: "We are trying to make it a good event and I know we have had a few customers who have had to travel to Lancaster for this.

"They've said it's fantastic for us and they will be coming here - around 30 people have already asked us for the forms."

Rachel Minshull, CancerCare’s Barrow and Furness Development Officer said: "I was very excited when I heard about this event coming to Barrow.

“Some of our clients in Barrow had seen the Lancaster events advertised and had asked me whether we could do something similar.

“As a woman, even at the best of times, it's not always easy to find the right bra. If you've had a mastectomy, it can be very difficult to not only find the right bra, but a nice bra.

“This event will allow women to spend time looking at the different bras on offer at M&S and trying them on whilst not feeling self-conscious about other people looking at them.

"The evening will also give people a chance to meet other women who have been through the same sort of thing.”

The event is taking place on Tuesday, April 24 from 6.30-9pm at Marks and Spencer in Dalton Road, Barrow.