The gift of a quilt brings a smile to the face of cancer sufferer
The first quilt was given to Gillian Ashworth (left), York, with Comfort Quilts Against Cancer's Bronwyn Dunn. Picture supplied.
Losing her best friend to the complications of breast cancer in 2011, York local Bronwyn Dunn was inspired to start a unique charity that has now delivered homemade quilts to thousands of cancer sufferers across Australia.
Bronwyn's friend Monica had been sick for three to four years, not dying directly from her cancer, but from a heart attack caused by the treatment chemicals in her body. Monica's death was a shock and a tragedy, leaving Bronwyn determined to honor her friend's memory.
"She was so well-loved and well-cared for, and when she was gone, I wanted to do something to honor her," Bronwyn said. "Like me, Monica was very crafty and passionate about her creations, so I decided to make a quilt and donate it to someone dealing with breast cancer."
Making quilts is a complex process, but Bronwyn's first quilt was gifted to Gillian Ashworth, a breast cancer sufferer in York, on the one-year anniversary of Monica's death. This marked the beginning of Comfort Quilts Against Cancer, a registered not-for-profit organization.
Initially, the small group focused on providing quilts to people undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments for breast cancer in rural Western Australia, where travel and local support can be challenging. However, the demand for their quilts soon expanded beyond rural areas and specific cancer types.
"But then, we found we couldn't say no to people wanting our quilts in the city or across the rest of Australia," Bronwyn said. "So, as demand for our quilts grew, we branched out to all Australians and with all types of cancers."
Today, Comfort Quilts Against Cancer has sent over 6600 quilts to cancer sufferers across Australia, delivering comfort and support to those in need. The organization has more than 185 volunteers nationwide, who work in small groups or individually to create, sew, knit, crochet, and fundraise for the cause.
The quilts are gifted anonymously, showing cancer sufferers that they are cared for and not alone in their journey. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many posts on the Comfort Quilts Against Cancer Facebook page. The quilts are made with love and take anywhere from four to 40 hours to complete, depending on their intricacy.
"Being able to help a cancer sufferer in even such a small way is so rewarding," Bronwyn said. "It is just a shame the supply of our quilts is such a drop in the ocean compared to the need for them."
For more information, visit comfortquilts.org.au.
