Press Release 16 March 2007

Red Rag to a bull or Possibly Tajikistan?

Business woman Helen Heath has decided to put her time and money where her mouth is. Owner operator of Red Rag alternative menstrual products, Helen is coordinating the New Zealand branch of an international group of women sewing cloth pads. The women have been sewing up a storm to create hundreds of pads, which are about to be donated to Counterpart and Caucasus Children's Relief Fund.

Helen says “In many parts of the world women are literally too poor to buy menstrual products. They include young women in orphanages, remote village women, women in areas of natural disasters and even women's shelters. There are thousands of women in need of these basic items we consider a necessity.”

The women came together after meeting online in cloth nappy forums. They all use cloth pads themselves and want to raise awareness of this eco-friendly option while helping women in need.

Helen says “In some cases girls stay home from school when menstruating, as they cannot afford disposable products or the cloth rags they use are not absorbent enough to cope with the blood flow. These girls are missing out on the benefits of school because they don't have pads. I think this is unacceptable. Relief organizations send disposable products but it is far more sustainable to provide something re-usable.”

The group is still collecting donations to cover postage of the pads, donations can be made online: at www.donatepads.org

ENDS

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