In 2007, footwear manufacturer Steel Blue and Breast Cancer Care WA created the Purple Boot Brigade, a social networking site for individuals with breast cancer, their families and friends (purpleboots.com.au). Since 2007, the Purple Boot Brigade and Steel Blue?s range of purple work boots for men and women have raised $400,000 to fund online research, national youth education programmes, and online breast cancer awareness campaigns.
Purpleboots.com.au was set up to educate Australians about breast cancer and encourage patients to share their stories. The Brigade is now participating in a study by Edith Cowan University aimed at setting up a new online support community and developing guidelines for health professionals to give online advice.
?The study will enable us to provide greater assistance to individuals who join the online community,? said Dr Leesa Costello, a supervisor of the Edith Cowan University study. ?We plan to provide a dedicated health care worker who will add a layer of professional support and provide information to members of the private online community.?
Members will have access to a new level of communication and support, while researchers will come closer to planning more effective ways to assist the online community.
You can support this cause by buying a pair of purple boots and joining the Purple Boot Brigade. Twenty dollars from every purchase of Steel Blue purple work boots goes to online support and education programmes. Part proceeds of all accessories including socks, purple leather polish and replacement laces will also support the project. You can buy your purple boots from Steel Blue distributors across Australia (see www.steelblue.com.au for your closest store location).
Source: Steel Blue/McIntyre Management & Marketing