Local lingerie store wins award; pays it forward
Posted September 6, 2021 8:44 pm.
Last Updated September 7, 2021 5:42 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A locally owned small business on the Lower Mainland was named the “Best Lingerie Store” by the Best of Intima Awards in New York City in August — now, its owner wants to pay it forward.
Sonya Perkins, owner of Forever Yours Lingerie says After winning the title in August, she wanted to celebrate by raising funds for a cause near and dear to the company, just in time for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
“Two per cent of every single sale from our locations in North Burnaby, Langley, and online goes to Ovarian Cancer Canada,” says Perkins.
Perkins says the donations will also honour her muse, and former Forever Yours Lingerie model Elly Mayday, who lost her battle to ovarian cancer in 2019.
“She was just love and light personified. She had the best laugh; she had the best sense of humour; she was crazy and goofy and was an incredible model,” explains Perkins, adding Mayday deeply touched the hearts of those who worked and shopped at Forever Yours Lingerie and became a big part of the local community.
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“Our customers knew her, she was such a big part of our business, and they were just as devastated as we were when she passed away. So it’s really been something that people are like ‘yeah we just loved her so much,’ and are thrilled to be able to not only feel like their shopping this month is making a difference, but that it’s also honouring her memory.”
Perkins says Mayday was an outspoken advocate for women’s health.
“It was very important for her to tell her story for women to advocate for their health… She went to multiple doctors multiple times, emergency rooms multiple times, and she was told multiple times it was just a cyst, it was all in her head, or that she gained too much weight, and after she was diagnosed she worked closely with Ovarian Cancer Canada.”
Perkins says she hopes sharing Mayday’s story will push more women to advocate for their own health, and push for proper treatment when their concerns are dismissed.
“You know your own body. Advocate for your health. When something doesn’t feel right, keep pushing until you get the answers.”
