'Lady bro' convinces Calgary airport to cut tampon price

An anonymous traveller has become a folk hero for women after giving out free tampons in a Canadian airport.

The unidentified woman said she had to buy a box of tampons for C$15 ($12; £9) at the Calgary airport because the tampon vending machines were all empty.

She left the rest of the box in the bathroom with a note saying "please take one" and slamming the airport prices as "not acceptable".

After her good deed went viral on Reddit, prices were lowered to $6.25.

"None of the tampon vending machines work in this area so I was forced to buy this $15 box from Relay (an airport vendor)", read a handwritten note next to an open box of tampons in a Calgary Airport public bathroom.

"Not acceptable! Please take one if you need one."

The act of generosity inspired one fellow traveller to post a picture of the note on the social media site Reddit, which has since received over 10,000 reactions.

"Lady bro in the bathroom of the Calgary Airport! I appreciate you!" wrote Carlee Field on Reddit.

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The post received enough attention that airport staff responded and the retailer changed their tampon prices, which were about three to four times higher than a typical drug store.

"Our maintenance team has checked and filled all vending machines in the washrooms, and our retailer Relay has adjusted the price of tampons to $6.25, effective immediately," wrote the verified Reddit handle for the airport.

Ms Field said the anonymous tampon-giver has won a victory for womankind.

"Fifty per cent of the population needs these things and she helped make a difference that day," Ms Field later told CTV Calgary.

"Thank you. From woman to woman, you're fantastic."