JOIN THE CLUB: Donations stitched up

QUILTING and the internet would not seem, at first blush, to be bosom buddies – one a time-honoured craft, the other taking over modern communication.
But the internet has facilitated a loose network of quilters all over Australia, including a dedicated band locally, to band together for a common cause.
While piecemeal approaches rarely get the best results, it has worked wonderfully for Comfort Quilts Against Cancer.
Bannockburn quilter Heather Corbett is one of around 30 local crafters who have turned their talents into a wonderful morale boost for women going through the challenge of breast cancer.
“Back in 2011 I saw an email sent to various Yahoo groups interested in machine embroidery and sewing,” Heather recalled.
“It was from a lady in York, Western Australia, who said that while a lot was being done to raise money for cancer research it seemed there was not much being done for cancer patients.
“Often after they had their treatment they needed a boost in morale and an anonymously donated quilt becomes amazing therapy.
“It came through at a particular stage for me as I was close to a cousin who had been battling breast cancer for 20 years. The last 15 months of her life were particularly hard.
“I’m a member of an embroidery group in Geelong and I asked whether we could put aside some of our projects to make quilt squares to send to WA.
“So many women are getting treatment for breast cancer that each one of us knew someone in treatment, so it’s a project close to all our hearts.
“It just multiplied from there, with ladies making quilt squares and sending them over where they’re finished and distributed.
“We had more and more ladies offering to help or to do the quilting once the squares were finished. We’ve now done nine quilts.”
Heather said the finished quilts were sent to women as a result of recommendations from friends and nursing staff in cancer centres and hospitals.
Recipients included local breast cancer sufferers.
The Comfort Quilts group also held coffee mornings and a sew-a-thon to raise funds for the cause, generating about $500 and some 12 finished quilts into the bargain.
Heather said little external motivation was needed for the cause, with the members needing to look no further than a typical letter from a quilt recipient.
“I really do not think words can adequately express how much the receipt of this quilt has meant to me,” one recipient wrote back.
“For a number of reasons I have been having a bit of a hard time over the last month and I was feeling a bit down.
“Our financial situation is a bit tight at the moment and I think my husband thought I had been spending money we did not have.
“You just cannot imagine the feeling of pure joy and elation that came over me when I opened the parcel and saw the contents. This just lifted a weight off my shoulders.
“It seems as though whenever I am in dire need something occurs to reaffirm my faith in the world and all the people in it.”
More information on Comfort Quilts Against Cancer is available on Facebook or by phoning Heather on 5281 2151 or emailing hgcorbett@yahoo.com.au.