Quilt presentation at Christmas Fair

6:27pm Thursday 27th November 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

PARENTS and carers of disabled children who have spent months stitching a patchwork quilt are using it to bring comfort to terminally-ill youngsters.

The group, who are all linked to Weardale charity Independence 4 Disability, are presenting their handwork to family support organisation the Rainbow Trust at the weekend.

Helen Blackburn, Jayne Gowland, Donna Jones, Gillian Walker, Fiona Scott, Anna Russon-Morwood, Feorgia Dean-White and Victoria Ryne will hand it over to the trust at a Christmas Fair at Stanhope on Saturday.

They have been working on the quilt since February and have been guided by textile artist Lone Grinter, with funding from Good For the Soul.

It will be used by children receiving respite care at the trust’s centre in Hexham.

Helen Blackburn said the group had enjoyed learning new skills through the project.

She said: "It has entailed hours of sewing, pricked fingers and gallons of coffee, as well as enabling the group to form new friendships and find mutual support.

"It has provided a social outlet for people who would not normally get the opportunity to mix with other like-minded people."

The Christmas Fair is at St Thomas’ Church Hall, Stanhope, on Saturday at 10.30am, when there will be seasonal refreshments, a spinning demonstration, a story teller, stalls and Father Christmas.