A campaign against female genital mutilation was launched in Peckham earlier this month, with women urged to donate their wedding dresses in a unique fundraising drive.
The Donate the Dress scheme supports the Desert Flower Foundation, an anti-FGM charity that hopes to set up the UK’s first support centre.
On February 6, the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, a photo-shoot took place at Asylum Road to launch the campaign.
Victoria Finch, 31, donated her dress, which originally cost over £1000. She said: “To me, a wedding dress is a symbol of untouchable femininity, which brought me happiness and a sense of freedom as I entered marriage. It causes me great sadness that FGM continues to go on today in the UK.
“If my wedding dress is able to assist in helping victims of this distressing practice then it will have been more than worth it.”
There are an estimated 137,000 survivors of FGM in the UK.
If you wish to donate or find more information visit: www.donatethedress.org