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Lesser Known Benefits to Wearing a Sports Bra & Why They’re Essential with Bras for Girls

Understanding your breasts is essential to women’s health. From knowing risk factors associated with breast cancer, to understanding the various sources of breast pain, the conversations are vast and deserve our attention! 

One area that often gets overlooked as it relates to breast health is the sports bra. For women and girls, wearing a well-fitting sports bra is crucial for both performance and comfort. In our latest blog, we sat down with Sarah Lesko of the nonprofit Bras For Girls to discuss all things sports bras!  

Related: Support Know Your Lemons for Early Detection

IDA: So what’s the story behind Bras for Girls? How did it come to be?

Sarah Lesko: Our organization began in 2017 as a philanthropic program by the women’s athletic apparel brand, Oiselle. The program was created in response to a 2016 Portsmouth University “Bra Lab” comprehensive schoolgirl survey that reported:
  • 46% of girls reported their breasts affected their sports and exercise participation.
  • More than 50% of girls did not wear a sports bra with exercise.
  • 87% of girls wanted to know more about breast development.
  • 73% of girls reported at least one breast-specific concern in relation to sports and exercise.

At the time, Oiselle happened to have a surplus of sports bras. Dr. Sarah Lesko led the creation of the Bras for Girls program. In the first year the program received requests for more than 68,000 bras. As requests for bras multiplied, it became apparent that our mission was greater than one company. In 2021, Bras for Girls became its own 501c3 non-profit, and has since grown 200% each year in the number of girls reached. Bras for Girls now partners with >25 brands that support our mission.  

IDA: Why is the sports bra considered an essential piece of gear?

SL: A sports bra is a bra designed specifically to support breasts during exercise. As bodies change during puberty, the biomechanics of unsupported breast tissue can lead to pain, discomfort, or embarrassment with exercise, which can translate to a decreased desire for physical movement– causing some girls to quit sports. Lack of a sports bra should never be the reason a girl stops doing sports. 

IDA: What are some obvious or lesser known benefits to wearing a sports bra? 

SL: 

  • More physical comfort with exercise
  • Improved stride length with running 
  • A feeling of empowerment 
  • Ability to control what other people see about your body 
  • Increased confidence with exercise

IDA: How many bras have you distributed in total? 

SL: More than 110,000 so far! 

IDA: That's amazing! How are the bras distributed exactly? 

SL: Our bras are distributed from our warehouse in Seattle, WA. We ship to everywhere in the U.S. (48 states so far) and occasionally partner with international groups if the inventory is being brought there personally. We also distribute bras in person to groups in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties in WA state. We keep inventory of sizes ranging from girls 7/8 all the way through 5X. We also have band and cup size bras from 30A-40FF. When we get requests for any unusual sizes, we have a great relationship with a specialty store in Renton (the Pencil Test) that helps us source extended sizes.
Programs can submit a Sports Bra Request through our simple online form. Our team reviews the request and helps to determine how many and what sizes to send. The more we know about your team or program, the more accurate we can be when selecting sizes and styles to send. Our team confirms shipping information and compiles an order of sports bras, fun stickers and our bra fit booklets. 

IDA: What is a fact or statistic about bras or breasts that shocked you when you first heard it? 

SL: We partner with many Title 1 middle schools throughout the US (PE and Health teachers); through surveys, these teachers estimate that more than 75% of the girls in their classes do not have a sports bra. Of our recipient programs, one third of the girls receive their first ever sports bra from us. 

IDA: What do you think is one of the biggest misconceptions the public has about sports bras, breast health, or simply women’s (and girls’) sports?

SL: 

  • That girls in the US have access to all the sports bras they need
  • That girls only need one sports bra 
  • That there is one best sports bra that works for every person and every sport 
  • That sports bras should be uncomfortable and restrictive 
  • That you need to play a sport to wear a sports bra!

IDA: Have you ever received opposition from naysayers to your work or do you find most people to be in support of the mission once they learn more? 

SL: In general Bras for Girls receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, especially regarding our bra fit information and breast development education booklets. We have occasionally encountered coach or teacher discomfort with saying the word “breast” or talking about bodies at all. This discomfort is often reduced by explaining the reasoning behind our educational mission. We know that in a communication vacuum, girls will often internalize that something is wrong or different about their body. 
 

IDA: If you could wave a magic wand, what would you hope Bras for Girls will achieve in 5 years?

SL: In a perfect world, Bras for Girls wouldn't need to exist: every girl would already receive the breast development education she needs and would have access to a well-fitting sports bra. In absence of that, we are working to have bra-fit education and sports bra distribution integrated into middle school PE and health curricula everywhere. 
 

IDA: How can people get involved if they’d like to help or support?

SL: We are so fortunate to have an active and generous volunteer and donor community. Our website, volunteer signup page, newsletter list, and donation page are great places to start. We hope to see you at a Bras for Girls event! 

Check out their work brasforgirls.org!

Want to support early detection work with Know Your Lemons? Shop the Limited Edition Breast Self Pack

From now through the end of February 2025, IDA is donating $10 for every pair sold from the Limited Edition Breast Self Pack to Know Your Lemons®. The limited edition pack features the IDA Rise Elite FG/AG cleats and the IDA Rise Turf shoes. Available exclusively in the US at this time. 

Let’s expand the conversations around breast health, better understand our bodies, and support early detection!

October 21, 2024
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