RDH sponsor 162 sports bras for female basketball players

Anna Cox, Geraldton Guardian, Friday 19 July 2024

Local businesses and one passionate committee member have teamed up to support better retention of young female basketballers in Geraldton, through $13,000 worth of free sports bras.

Rheann Van Tiel is a committee member of Olympians Basketball Club, and earlier this year she noticed junior players were not wearing sports bras with adequate function or support.

"It's yet another barrier for women in sport. Some girls literally have to wear two sports bras, so then it becomes a financial barrier," she said.

Mrs Van Tiel said historically, girls would start dropping out at under-16s level and they were aware that sourcing adequate bras could help players feel like they had a place and belonged in the sport.

In March, Mrs Van Tiel approached sports retailer Intersport to have a conversation about what their options were, and how to source performance sports bras. Intersport acted as the supplier for Mrs Van Tiel, then gaining sponsorship from Red Dust Holdings and Geraldton Aboriginal Medical Service through the advice of Intersport.

GRAMS was essential in the process, informing Mrs Van Tiel of the cultural differences which can often interfere in obtaining garments such as sports bras, for women in the Indigenous community.

"And Tanya from Red Dust was amazing. Her passion for women in sport really shone through," Mrs Van Tiel said. "She asked about whether or not we'd considered women who'd had mastectomies returning to sport, so really, we've covered everything."

In total, 162 sports bras have been ordered through Intersport, with the $13,000 price tag funded by Red Dust Holdings and GRAMS.