Pink Scarf Project Update

Hi all!

There was an article in the newsletter for the Valley Medical Center. This was the place where they were collecting pink scarves (Katie was coordinating that project and a few UUs made some lovely scarves for the cause!)

Thought you all might be interested with how things turned out:

Thank You For Outstanding Scarf Donations! Your donation of time and pink-colored scarves has already made a meaningful impact to those touched in their lives by cancer.

Christy Snavely, a Valley Breast Center technologist, recently envisioned providing such scarves to breast cancer survivors at the Breast Center as an extra comfort to their days. Such a thought - just one per week in a possible drawing - blossomed into handmade scarf donations that, when placed end-to-end, could stretch for a city block!

"I am so proud of this project and everyone involved in bringing it to life," Christy says. "This project has brought so many people together - young, old, sisters, mothers, daughters, aunts, and men , too. We are bringing awareness to the cause and showing our patients that we do care about them and they're just as special and unique as the scarves are."

At last count, nearly 250 pink knitted and crocheted scarves had been received by project organizers - all thanks to VMC team members who responded to the request that was also published in This Week at Valley. During the month of October, each patient seen in the VBC, Radiation Oncology, ATU and Southlake Clinic were offered the opportunity to choose a scarf.

"For many who donated, it was a time to remember friends and family who have been touched by breast cancer," says Rose Guerrero, Cancer Services.  "For others it was a time to give thanks that their families have been spared a cancer diagnosis." 

Donations came from a variety of VMC departments, and at last count, more than 50 team members contributed handmade scarves or donated money and/or yarn.

"For some, this was the first time they ever knit anything," Rose says. "Team members passed along the word to their spouses, mothers, sisters, grandmothers, friends and knitting clubs to join in. And the scarf traveling the longest distance for this project is from our own Ginny Concannon's sister in New Hampshire."

"Each scarf is unique and beautiful," says Sherry Kuzan, Valley Breast Center. "Each provides a very special way to remember our breast cancer patients and survivors. Our patients will truly feel cared for with these handcrafted gifts; we want them to know there are many hands working together to support them through their cancer journey."

While some of the scarves today appear in display cases in the MAC and Present Place locations, none are for sale - but stay tuned to This Week at Valley to learn about an opportunity to purchase similar scarves at the upcoming Craft Fair event next month.