By Eraina Hooyer
Staff Reporter
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women and one in nine women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime according to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
Ponoka has recognized this and is stepping up to help bring comfort to those with breast cancer.
The United Yarners is a group that gets together once a month and knits prayer shawls for people who are going through a difficult time.
Debby Grant, public health nurse for the David Thompson Health Region, believed the United Yarners were helping the community and asked to do shawls specifically for breast cancer. Grant believes it is a worthwhile cause and made a request to the Ponoka Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion to help support the cause.
“It’s a nice way to show that the community is thinking about them,” said Grant. “It’s also another way to help make people aware and conscientious of breast cancer and an awareness to health.”
The Legion responded with a cheque for $2,000, which will buy enough yarn to make approximately 230 shawls for people with breast cancer.
“It certainly is a very worthwhile program,” said president Dorothy Houghton. “The bottom line is people helping people, this is one way of bringing the community together.”
Margie Jones, a member of the United Yarners, feels that the shawls bring comfort to families dealing with breast cancer knowing that other people are thinking about them.
“It recognizes people in times of difficulty,” said Jones.“The individuals know that other people are thinking about them and that can be a good feeling. The shawls are all blessed after we have made them and we have had a huge response from the community.”
The group has about 20 knitters and Jones says that if a person is a steady knitter they can knit a shawl in about a week. They give these shawls away only by referral and leave it up to the community to ask for these shawls.
The United Yarners encourages other knitters and crocheters to engage in their social get togethers and help with this cause.
For more information contact the Ponoka United Church at 403-783-4087.
Breast cancer will be recognized and showcased at the Ponoka Stampede on Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day on June 29.