Nothing wooly about charity knitting drive
SENIOR CITIZENS LEAD THE WAY
Wednesday February 17 2010
A GROUP of Rush senior citizens showed they knew their plain from their pearl as part of a fundraising event from two worthy causes.
Balls of wool were rolled out at Rush Nurshing Home as part of a drive to raise money for the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.
Knitters, crocheters and stitchers from all over Dublin came together at the weekend in the Pavilions Shopping Centre to create handmade blankets for children undergoing heart surgery.
Every square created was sponsored with all money going to Partners in Health, the international charity headed up in Haiti by Dublin doctor Louise Ivers. The squares were joined into blankets and donated directly to Heart Children Ireland, who gift them to cardiac patients as comfort blankets in the intensive care unit of Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin following heart surgery.
Several of the residents of Rush Nursing Home took part in the event. In one week, this group created 15, 6" x 6" knitted squares, in an amazing array of colour and variety of stitch patterns.
The squares were brought along to the Pavilions on Sunday, so that they can be included in the count of squares made for this fundraising event.
Rush Nursing Home is delighted to support this much deserved fundraiser with activity therapist Mary Bardin stating that the residents were eager to produce as many knitted squares as possible. One of the volunteers then joined the squares together and pass on the blanket to Heart Children Ireland.
'Many of our residents knitted throughout their lives and are happy to show off their knitting and croquet skills,' said Mary.
' When the knitting group get together it also provides them with the opportunity to socialise and enjoy each others company. Being involved in this knitting challenge enables our residents to stay in touch with and become involved in their community.'
For this group of knitters, this is only the beginning as they will continue to meet with their volunteers every Tuesday afternoon to to knit and chat.
