Get your knitting needles out to support poorly children
Knitters in Nottinghamshire are being urged to get their needles out in support of a hospice that helps children from throughout the county and beyond.
Rainbows Hospice, which is in Loughborough but is the nearest children’s hospice for Newark families, has an unusual fundraising idea to mark its 25th anniversary.
The charity, which cares for children and young people with life-limiting illnesses, wants to fill the East Midlands with colourful flower brooches.
In its special anniversary year, Rainbows is asking its supporters to knit brightly-coloured flower brooches and sell them to family, friends and neighbours to raise awareness and funds.
Alternatively, knitters can send them to the hospice where they will be sold in its shops for £2.
Ali Furlong, community fundraiser at Rainbows, said: “If you are one of those people who can never sit down without a pair of knitting needles and a ball of wool we would love your help during our anniversary year.
“We have a simple pattern available, designed by one of our lovely volunteers, but feel free to express your creativity and use any flower knitting or crochet flower pattern you would like.
“All we ask is that you be as bold and bright as a rainbow.
“You can send them directly to the hospice, or deliver them to our shops where we will sell them. You can also sell them to people for a donation. We may also thank our fantastic supporters with them as gifts.”
There is a bigger project knitters can get their needles into. Rainbows also wants people to knit a large flower it can display at its 25th birthday party.
The charity wants to create a meadow of brightly- coloured flowers at the hospice, which will be displayed at the party during its community open day on Saturday, September 21.
These flowers will be sold for a minimum donation of £25 each and, following the community open day, will be posted to the person who donated.
Ali added: “We want as many flowers as possible to brighten Rainbows, and have a template for three different designs, two being knitting patterns and one a crochet pattern.
“For these larger flowers we would ask you to please follow the patterns we have, but use any brightly coloured yarn you would like.”
Visit rainbows.co.uk/knitting for more information or contact Ali Furlong on 01509 638006.
Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, was founded by a couple whose daughter died of leukaemia in 1989.
Rainbows opened its doors in 1994 and this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
As the only hospice of its kind in the East Midlands, it supports children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
It provides end-of-life care, symptom management, short breaks and respite care to hundreds of families from throughout the East Midlands.
The people at Rainbows help relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, support parents and siblings through their bereavement, and care for children until the end.
