Rotary club's campaign to get blankets to dementia patients continues amid 'unbelievable' support
A town Rotary Club’s appeal for wool for patients has been a massive success – and they are asking for more.
The Newport Rotary Lite’s appeal for wool to knit blankets for dementia patients has met with a huge response from the community, with many groups and individuals also knitting for the club’s appeal. The blankets are already making a difference to patients in county hospitals.
Newport Rotary Lite knitter Liz Chesters said: “We have been absolutely blown away by the extraordinary generosity of so many people donating wool and knitting blankets for our appeal – the support we’ve received has been unbelievable.
"In the two weeks since we launched our appeal we’ve received over 500 balls of wool, and have managed to buy more at a bargain rate thanks to local business support. And to top it all we’ve got an amazing collection of local groups and individuals knitting for the appeal – between us we’ve already knitted or crocheted 30 blankets for Princess Royal Hospital and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. People are amazing.”
“We have groups and individual knitters helping us from Newport, but we’ve had offers of support from as far away as Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton and Market Drayton. One lovely West Midlands family who want to remain anonymous gave us £155 to buy more wool with.
"Julie from Allsorts Wool and Fabric in Madeley sold us lovely bright wool at a bargain price, then donated even more – people have been so helpful.”
Lisa Butler, dementia specialist nurse, said: “We can’t thank Newport Rotary Lite and their friends enough – what they are doing really does make a difference to people’s lives. It’s a fantastic effort which is helping some very vulnerable patients. Thank you!”
Liz Chesters said: “We’re knitting and crocheting distinctive and very brightly coloured blankets – they help patients with dementia identify their bed in hospital, and then they can take it home with them as its theirs to keep. It helps them settle and gives them something warm and comforting at what could be a frightening time for them.
“It takes about five or six balls of wool to make a blanket, so we and the friends helping us need a lot of wool. We’re also looking for other knitters to help us help the hospitals. If anyone can either give us some wool or would like to help knit, please just e mail info@newportrotarylite.org.uk or message us through the Newport Shrops Rotary Lite Facebook page.
“It’s a great way to get rid of any wool that’s been hanging around for a while,or spending a little while knitting a six inch square or even a whole blanket. Together we’re really helping these patients.”
