October is back and for more than 25 years now, it has resonated with the Pink October campaign and its now famous pink ribbon.

The Pink October campaign is here to:

• remind us of the importance of breast cancer screening,
• raise funds for research,
• communicate about actions that help ease and/or improve the quality of life for patients treated for breast cancer.

For 15 years, I dedicated my professional career to the hospital environment and for over 10 years, I supported patients with oncological conditions. So Pink October is and remains very important to me. For a few months now, I have chosen a different path in life but I was determined to still do something for Pink October... so when Lovely Solidarity contacted me to consider a collaboration, it felt like a sign of fate!

What is Lovely Solidarity?

Lovely Solidarity is a non-profit organization created in 2019 in France by Edwige that aims to create a solidarity loop between seamstresses, hospitals, drop-off points/stores, and of course patients. The idea came to Edwige when she herself faced illness and the difficulties related to surgeries; especially with the placement of drains.

The goal of the non-profit is to be able to offer bags specifically designed to hide drains (necessary for draining the operated breast) called lovely bags. These bags, whose design is inspired by Japanese picnic bags, allow patients not to have the drains (which constantly remind them of the illness) in sight but also to know that other women are thinking of them and supporting them during these difficult times.

Since 2019, Lovely Solidarity has grown significantly and now has Belgian branches in 7 hospitals and is also present in Luxembourg, allowing more and more lovely bags to be offered!

You can watch here the interview with Johanne who explains the association’s goals.

How to participate?

There are several ways to join this great solidarity chain:

• by sewing lovely bags and becoming a lovely seamstress
• by becoming a drop-off/collection point
• by transporting lovely bags from collection points to partner hospitals
• by becoming a coordinator for a region
• by making donations in the form of money or fabric
• by helping to create new collaborations in hospitals, organizing events, ...

At C'est du Joly! we decided to donate 15% of our profits from Monday 10/4 to 10/17 to Lovely Solidarity. To participate, just enter the code LOVELY when you place your order. With the money raised, Lovely Solidarity will provide fabric to participating seamstresses so they can continue the effort throughout the year.