Woolly Hugs, Little Hugs 2: Billie's Blankets for World Child Cancer org.

[KnottyLocks]

This is Phase 2 of the Little Hugs project.
Since the beginning, the aim of the Little Hugs has been to provide little blankets that give comfort to babies and small children who are seriously ill in hospital. Hopefully, Phase 2 will continue to do this and more.

We are launching this phase as a tribute to beautiful Billie, our lovely MrsDeVere's daughter, who devastatingly died at 14 from leukaemia. This is the time of her 21st birthday and we are calling the project Billie's Blankets in her memory. In her name, we will send little blankets to children who really need a woolly hug and to feel loved and looked after.

We have been talking to this wonderful organisation World Child Cancer and are arranging for Little Hugs to be sent to children suffering from cancer in low and middle income countries. In these countries their overall chance of survival can be under 10% compared to around 80% in high income countries such as ours.
The first batch of Billie's Blankets will be taken to children in Malawi and Bangladesh.


World Child Cancer's response to our initial idea is below:

'Thank you for your email and your kind offer of support. Your blankets are beautiful and I'm sure they provide great comfort to the children who you make them for.
I'm sure the children would love them. Unfortunately most of the children we see at our projects are not able to survive their cancer due to the poor conditions, lack of knowledge and the high cost of medicine in the worlds poorest countries. In these cases we encourage palliative care for the children through our twinning partners who provide training for local project staff on the importance of this care, especially in pain relief. Psychosocial care is also very important and an area we focus on through supporting parent groups and play therapists. I think your blankets would fit in well with this area.'


How you can help:

By crafting:
You can help by either making a whole Little Hug (see yarn spec)
Or
By making 6" squares, either knitted or crocheted, using Stylecraft Special DK yarn

Or by donating for crafting materials:
If you would like to contribute towards materials, you can either donate via Paypal here on our Woolly Hugs website or if you do not have Paypal, please PM RatherBeOnThePiste.

Or by donating to World Child Cancer (see below)



For all Little Hugs:

Minimum size: 24 inches by 24 inches
If you would like to make a blanket that is bigger, that would be lovely.
The children are aged 0 to 14 so we will need bigger blankets too.

Colours: Your choice.
Although for practical reasons, we advise avoiding white and cream.

Things to avoid:
Any embellishments that could scratch delicate skin or could be swallowed.

Materials:
Suggested yarn: Stylecraft Special DK, a soft, non-scratchy acrylic yarn.
If you would like to make a whole blanket, you could use a different weight and make of acrylic yarn. The essential thing is that it needs to be soft against sensitive and delicate skin and that it can be washed and dried quickly and easily.

If you would like to take part in this project but feel you can't due to the costs involved, please PM Pistey and we'll try to help with materials.

**

Alongside Billie's Blankets, we are very keen to send a donation.
Money is scarce, they really have so little. In May a Woolly Hugs' team will be running the BUPA London 10k, and we have ideas for a craft fundraiser later in the year.
We have set up a Just giving Page here
Your donation is welcome at anytime.

These children need all the love and comfort possible. So please, in memory of a sparkling young girl who always thought of others, we'd love you to help us help them.

As ever, thank you so much for your support

Thinking of Billie and her family. x

Knotty and Pistey


Facebook - MNWoollyHugs
Twitter - @MNWoollyHugs

[KnottyLocks]

Whatever, if you can donate via WH, we'll get wool to a crafter for you.

[BigStickBIWI]

There are plenty here

Assuming that MrsDeVere would be happy for some of us to do a Race for Life?

[OpheliaBumps]

My knitted nork is done, my squares for lemontruffle are done, just my angel hug to finish then I'll do at least some squares for this, if not a whole blanket (i'm finding my angel hug a bit daunting, so will try the next blanket as individual squares).

So lovely that it's being done in Billie's memory, I too remember Mrs DV's desperate sadness when her family didn't acknowledge Billie's birthday, just heartbreaking. I'm honoured to do anything I can to keep this beautiful girl's memory alive.

[Schooldidi]

I'll do one. I'm finishing off my squares for lemontruffles, then have a baby blanket to finish for my friend (baby is due next week, I hope it's late cos blanket is only half finished), then I'll get on and do a Little Hug.

Ophelia I'm finding a blanket in one piece a bit daunting as well, I'm much happier working in smallish squares.

[5madthings]

I have my confirmation email through from bupa run...oh what have I done?!

[Portofino]

Shamelessly bumping for the evening crowd.

[5madthings]

whatever I have pm'd you, just a thought I had xxx

[QuickLookBusy]

Thank you for this lovely thread, such a great idea.

I can't run or knit but have donated on the Just Giving site.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Morning all

BIWI - you've said that out loud now, and we have witnesses - I'll run a 5K with you.

Yes we will investigate other runs today, I think 5K is a good idea though.

What an immense response. Awesome. We are already onto £200 on Just Giving Huge thanks to all X

I'm just off to PMs now, I think I may be a while, but that is marvellous, lots of lovely folk ready to help.

Thinking of Billie who inspires us, much love to you all MrsDV Xx

[Portofino]

[Portofino]

I have ordered wool - be afraid, be very afraid!

[Somersaults]

I'll definitely do some squares for this. Not sure I can commit to a whole blanket with work the way it is at the moment but I really, really want to help. I've got plenty of Stylecraft (thank you Lucy pack) so I can send some when I've got a couple. I'll be doing Lemons squares for a little while now but will move onto these after that.

[KnottyLocks]

Hoooge hugs, MrsDV.

[fanjodisfunction]

This thread is amazing, can't believe how many people are signing up to run, you crazy amazing women.
pistey check out the running magazine they have lists of runs in the back for all over the country. There must be some other things we can do, a sponsersed walk? Or bike ride? I would be up for both these options, running is not my thing. I could look into this today if you want?

[KnottyLocks]

Fan, that would be great. Thank you

[KnottyLocks]

Just Walk have a walk across the South Downs in May, for a charity of the walkers' choice. Worth looking at maybe.

[fanjodisfunction]

knotty will have a look but sounds good already, I see there is a walk from london to brighton but its a £85 entry fee. Will keep looking and report back later.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Thanks fan X

[TigerFeet]

Can anyone recommend a source of decent quality fleece? Thanks :)

[BigStickBIWI]

Hmm. Walking ....

[fanjodisfunction]

World Child Cancer has its own sponsered walk in London its called the Orange Autumn Challenge, http://www.worldchildcancer.org/get-involved/events/walking/orange-autumn-challenge/ the walk theres not alot of information on the page to say how many miles the walk is, but it might be an option.

Just walk do a south downs challenge the walk info but as you can see there is an entry charge.

Or I could look at organising our own route, World Child Cancer can help and give us t'shirts to wear.

I will continue to look today.

[KnottyLocks]

Tiger, I've used Calico Lane for fleece. Lovely quality and quick delivery.