It’s that time of year again where residents run through the streets with their most garish bras on show.

The whole point, of course, is to raise awareness and funds towards breast cancer research, as one in eight women in the UK will face this disease in their lifetime.

This is according to Breast Cancer Now Isle of Man, which will be holding its 14th annual Bra Dash races in Douglas, Castletown, Peel and Ramsey.

All past events have raised just over £191,000 and last year’s dashes raised a total of £8,360 with more than 120 dashers taking part.

Its volunteer chair, Angie Aire, said: ’I started this dash in 2004, two years after I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and wanted to give something back as I recovered so well following my treatments of chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy.

’Today our treatments are so refined that each different type of breast cancer is targeted with a different treatment.

’Thanks to research the treatments today are more effective and less invasive so patients still have a decent quality of life whilst undergoing their treatment.

She continued: ’Breast Cancer Now IOM has fundraised on the island for the past 25 years for research into breast cancer, raising over £1.8million.

’All of our funds go to Breast Cancer Now, the leading breast cancer research charity in the UK.

’Right now breast cancer is at a tipping point. More women are surviving, but more are being diagnosed than ever before and every 45 minutes, another woman dies from the disease.

’If we all act now, by 2050, we believe everyone who develops the disease will live.’

fun

When asked what she most enjoyed about the dashes, Angie said: ’Apart from the difference we are making in the research, it’s the fun, the dashers and their amazing decorated bras and costumes, as well as the sideline supporters and that we are in the four corners of the island over the one weekend.’

The recent MBE recipient has dressed as Cruella de Vil, Marge Simpson, superwoman and, rather impressively, walked on stilts for the dashes.

The Douglas event will begin at 1.15pm on April 27 behind Marks & Spencer’s car park on Market Street and will be opened by the Mayor of Douglas Debbie Pitts.

Castletown will have its dash on the same Friday and will begin at Castletown Square at 1.30pm.

The dash at Ramsey will start at 11am in the square next to the Shoprite on Parliament Street on April 28.

Peel’s race will start at 3pm from the swing bridge on the promenade on April 29.

Prize awards will be given to the fastest dasher, best dressed dasher, best team (with a minimum of four people per group) and the best dressed child dasher at each event.

More information, including a sponsorship form, can be found by searching www.bradash.im