During the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s hard to miss the impact of breast cancer on so many lives. Knitted Knockers can make the life of a breast cancer survivor much easier.
Knitted Knockers are special handmade breast prosthesis for women who have undergone mastectomies or other procedures to the breast. The knockers are soft, comfortable, beautiful and when placed in a regular bra they take the shape and feel of a real breast. Whether you have been the recipient of a beautiful knitted knocker created by someone who cares, or are one of the gracious volunteers giving of their time and talents, you know the difference something very small can make.
According to knittedknockers.org, in the last three months alone over 25,000 Knitted Knockers have been given out free of charge. This is offered free in over 1,375 medical clinics and new clinics are signing up daily wanting to provide this wonderful service to their patients.
The Knitted Knockers’ movement was started in the United States by Barbara Demorest, a cancer survivor from Washington State. After having a single mastectomy, she was unable to undergo reconstructive surgery due to complications. When she was told by her doctor that it would be six weeks before she could be fitted with a prosthetic, she was devastated. So, one of her friends knitted an alternative for her. Barbara was so happy with the results that she founded KnittedKnockers.org, a nonprofit organization that recruits volunteer knitters to create the softer, more comfortable prosthesis.
“Knitted Knockers benefit not only the women who can use them, but also those who make them,” Barbara says. “With one out of every eight women having breast cancer during their lifetime, we all know someone who has had it. This is a practical, loving way to use our gifts and talents to make a difference.”
There are a number of organizations who have generously offered their support to Knitted Knockers Support Foundation. Please consider these companies knowing that 100 percent of the donation they offer goes directly to support the Foundation’s mission of bringing comfort and dignity to women.
Amazon.com will give Knitted Knockers five percent of your purchase at no extra cost. Just shop at smile.amazon.com and choose Knitted Knockers Support Foundation when shopping on Amazon.
Jimmy Beans is offering Knocker Blockers, a stunning pink to purple gradient set of Knit Blockers, which was developed exclusively to support the Knitted Knockers. Five dollars from every purchase goes directly to the cause, which provides knit and crochet breast prosthetics to women who have undergone breast mastectomies. Knocker Blockers are $30 and include 12 blockers with eight pins and eight blockers with four pins. Each purchase gets you a free pattern download of the Tenderness Shawl in knit and crochet.
Want to try out your creative side and support Knitted Knockers? Check out the SuperFan Challenge at https://knittinguniverse.com/KnittedKnockers.
Knitted Knockers Support Foundation is a nonprofit organization established under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), which means that donations are eligible for the charitable income tax deduction. For more information about the organizations who are supporting this cause and how you can help, visit www.knittedknockers.org.
