The 4th annual “Miles Of Pillowcase Smiles (MOPS)” Event, in conjunction with Pediatric Cancer Awareness, is ready to begin. The purpose of this event is to help raise awareness for childhood cancers and for the mission for ConKerr, which is to bring comfort to our local children while they are battling cancer and other serious illnesses. We provide them with a cheerful, handmade pillowcase that not only brightens their hospital room, but also their spirits. One mom described the pillowcase she received for her son when he was diagnosed with stage IV cancer as “something positive in a world filled with negativity”. It inspires them to stay strong as they battle cancer together as a family.
All during September, charters across the country will be gathering and sewing pillowcases. We will keep track of the number and add them together to see how many ‘miles’ we can make. Our goal again is 44,000, which is just under 21 miles (2,112 pillowcases per mile) and represents one for every child nationwide on average in treatment. Every day across the country 46 children on average will be diagnosed with a form of childhood cancer, and 1 in 5 children will die. Pediatric cancer is the #1 cause of disease related death from illness. The incidence of invasive pediatric cancers is up to 29% in the past 20 years.
There are many options for September sewing. You can form your own group with friends, scouts, church, or just with your family. A good friend of mine chose to have a ‘grandma/grandkids’ date and make them together, letting her grandchildren select the fabric they wanted and then helped them, teaching them an important skill while having fun through the process. It is a great project to teach beginning skills to new sewers and spend some quality time with those you love.
There will be an ‘open house’ style sewing event at Amelia’s Yarn and Fabric, 7 Upton Street, Hilton, NY 14468
Saturday, September 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday, September 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Fabric for pillowcases will be available for purchase there if you need some (15% discount) or you can bring your own fabric (100% cotton/flannel in child friendly colors. The finished pillowcases are for a standard size pillowcase. Body: 27” x width of fabric, Border: 10” x width of fabric, Trim (optional) 3” x width of fabric.
Love is what matters. It doesn’t matter if you are old or young or in between; a sewer for years or first time touching one, you can make a difference. You can help bring smiles to critically ill children and their family. These pillowcases are NOT just a yard of fabric. Each one is filled with wishes for comfort when they are scared, cheer when they are blue, that it will bring many smiles to them and help them get through the hard times ahead of them.
Please join in making a pillowcase during the month of September. If you are unable to sew, but would like to make a donation, 100% of funds are used directly for making pillowcases (buying fabric, thread and other needed supplies).
Debra Bartz
ConKerr Cancer Regional Coordinator
PO Box 624
Clarkson, NY 14430
9/8/13
