Chemo Hats for Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Day
Posted on 13. Aug, 2023 by ibcneco1 in News
Boston (August, 2023) – From the north shore to the south shore, dozens of crafters are making knit and crochet chemo hats to be donated to the Breast Health Center at Tufts Medical Center in Boston in recognition of Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
In January, the legislature approved a bill establishing a permanent Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Massachusetts. Governor Charlie Baker signed the bill into law on his final day in office.
Several yarn shops in the area have engaged their knitting/crochet groups in the project and are making hats including Wicked Good Yarns, 871 Washington St., (first floor, rear), in Braintree, and Auntie Zaza’s Fiber Works, 104 Main St, North Easton. Crafters may visit the shops to learn more, pick up some yarn and drop off donations. In addition, the Whitman Council on Aging Knitting Group is making hats.
In Dorchester, the Stitch House, 846 Dorchester Avenue, has announced two knit-along events in September to create hats for the project. The events will be held Friday, September 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Sunday, September 24, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Crafters are welcome to attend this event, learn about IBC, and meet new friends. IBC survivors will be in attendance to share information and educational materials.
There are also many individual knitters from the north and south shore who are creating hats for the donation.
The bill designates the second Tuesday of October as a permanent day to recognize and promote education about inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).
IBC is an aggressive form of breast cancer. IBC accounts for about one to 5% of all breast cancers, and a disproportionate number of life years lost. Most women diagnosed are under the age of 40. The disease is also the least understood type of breast cancer.
The bill was proposed by IBC New England Region, a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting awareness and education about IBC as well as resources for patients. Learn more at our website, ibc-ne.com.
“Our goal is to collect 100 hats by the end of September for the donation,” said Susan Asci, 22-year IBC survivor and founder of IBC New England. “Community crafting is a great way to get people together to share the experience of creating and donating to others. It’s an opportunity to talk, answer questions, and share information with our friends, family, and neighbors.”
For more information visit the Stitch House, Wicked Good Yarns, or Auntie Zaza’s Fiber Works, or call Susan Asci at 781-447-0848.
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