Lawyers are known for their formal attire, but this month the male staff members of Tauranga law firm Lyon O'Neale Arnold will be adding pink women's lingerie to their wardrobes.

Director Nick Earl and solicitors Simon Gyenge and Stephen Taylor are donning bright pink bras in support of the 2016 House of Travel Hot Pink Walk for breast cancer on October 19.

The bra-wearing trio will be helping to man the event's only drinks station, located at the firm's Willow St office, which is on the home stretch of the walk.

'We thought it would be a fun way of helping to raise awareness of the disease, and we hope it will encourage other men to get involved,” says Nick.

'Breast cancer is a disease that not only affects women – it also affects men, both directly and indirectly. About 20 men a year in New Zealand are diagnosed with breast cancer and, while that accounts for only one per cent of cases, many others are affected by the disease through the women in their lives – mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers and daughters.”

Lyon O'Neale Arnold has been personally touched by breast cancer, having lost a staff member to the disease and supported another through treatment.

Stephen's grandmother, Julienne Taylor, has had breast cancer four times. 'Thankfully, each time it was detected early,” says Stephen.

'However, not everyone is as lucky. Breast cancer is something that can affect anyone – women and men – and you never know who it will strike. The Hot Pink Walk is a chance to remind people what to look for and to raise much-needed funds towards research into what can be a devastating disease,” he adds.

'I'm looking forward to being part of the best-dressed mob in town and urge others to do the same. 'Get involved, join in the fun and paint the town pink!”

Seventy-five-year-old Julienne had a mastectomy when she was 45, followed by three further surgeries, and has now been cancer-free for six years.

'My last surgery was during Stephen's final year at school. I came home from Hamilton between radiotherapy treatments so I could attend his prizegiving. He's my only grandson and I'm very proud of him,” she says.

'I think it's great that Stephen and his male colleagues are getting involved in such a worthy cause.”

Simon says though the thought of wearing a bra while serving drinks to thousands of women dressed in pink was slightly unsettling, it was nothing compared to that endured by breast cancer sufferers and their loved ones.

'The Hot Pink Walk is a light-hearted way of drawing attention to a serious cause, and I'm proud to be part of that.”