A Powell River group has taken its expertise in knitting and turned it into a program that will help mastectomy patients across Canada, including local women.
Powell River’s Knitted Knockers group began when founder June Vogl, a double-mastectomy patient, was presented with a pair of “knockers” by her sister-in-law.
“They were so comfortable, so I delved into the idea,” said Vogl. When Shirley Koleszar, president of the local Sunshine Circle knitting group, asked Vogl to join, Vogl decided to bring her knitted breast pads to show the group.
“I didn’t join the knitting club, but they were looking for a project, so that’s where it all started,” says Vogl.
Instead of paying $350 each for silicone “knockers,” the group offers its knitted ones by donation. Comprised of more than 35 local women, the group has been so prolific in their knitting efforts that Knitted Knockers of Canada is now taking its extra “knockers” for distribution to other parts of the country.
“They are picked up and brought to Vancouver, but whatever happens, Powell River ladies will always come first,” said Koleszar.
Weighing less than two ounces each, the “knockers” take just over four hours each to make, including knitting and finishing time. Finishing, which consists of stuffing the knitted pockets with polyester and balancing them with a rock in the middle, is done by Vogl.
“They are washable and extremely comfortable. They can be worn inside an ordinary bra or mastectomy bra, and they are also much cooler than the silicone ones,” said Vogl.
While the group has the process of knitting and finishing the “knockers” down to a science, the hardest part about the project, according to Koleszar, is actually distributing the knitted products to women who can use them.
“Probably the most difficult thing to do, after you have the knitters and the yarn and everyone working, is to get the knockers to the breast cancer survivors,” says Koleszar.
Koleszar said approximately 60 local women are currently using the knitted breast pads.
With help from the Telus Ambassadors program, which also provided startup support for the group, Powell River’s Knitted Knockers group plans to continue raising money and awareness through its knitting efforts.
In addition to money raised from the knocker donations, Telus donates one dollar per hour of knitting. To date, the group has raised nearly $1,000 for local charities.
“The support has been overwhelming,” said Koleszar. “And I’ve never had to ask about getting knitters. I just get women calling me and asking if they can knit.”
Knitted Knockers are available by donation at Powell River Hospital Foundation office on Tuesdays from 11 am-noon. For more information, go to knittedknockers.org.
