Quilters tickled pink for cancer fundraiser

By Philip Rushton
Hinton Parklander


Rocky Mountain Quilters are stitching up a storm of blankets for a breast cancer fundraiser auction in the autumn.

"I've never worked with so much pink in my life," said Barb Verquin, president of the club.

The quilting fundraising idea has spread across North American quilting clubs originally for people going through chemo.

Hoping for a dozen, quilters have been busy since February making over 50 to date. Everything from wall hangings to table mats and kids' to queen sized blankets for live auction, with an average starting bid of $200.

"It's beyond belief, so many ladies pitched in, making the blanket tops and bindings," said Verquin.

On a road trip Verquin and a friend raided pink fabrics at Red Deer Quilt Show and back through Rocky Mountain House, Drayton Valley and all points along the Yellowhead highway out to Jasper on their quest for pink fabric.

When Verquin was buying up all their pink 10 meter bolts of fabric, quilt shops kindly discounted fabric to the cause.

"Most of it is stored at my house to my husband's dismay," said Verquin.

The quilters husbands have helped too, such as making the frames for the quilts.

The event will be at Griffths Ford in November where the quilts will be on display in the showroom. It will be a fancy wine and cheese and live musical entertainment event.

The quilters joined fundraising forces with Courtney Congdon who is working on a Cancer Calendar. Solomon Creek Quilters in Brule are also working on the project.

"The way people pitched in donating money, fabric, thread and their time is great," said Verquin.

All proceeds are going towards the cancer clinic at the Hinton Hospital. People come from all over the region for different cancer treatments.

For details on making a pink quilt, contact Verquin or come on down to The Guild Wednesday nights.