Paulette Schreiber, CRNP, of Elk Regional Health Center along with Jorae Yorns, owner of Jorae’s Quilt in Ridgway, looks over fabric being used for the Patches for Prevention Quilt Project to raise awareness of breast cancer.

By Amy Cherry
Daily Press Staff

    In an effort to raise awareness of breast cancer, Elk Regional Health Center is sponsoring the “Patches for Prevention Quilt Project”. 

As part of the project, a “crazy quilt” design was chosen which consists of creating 56 individual nine inch blocks. The quilt will be displayed in the hospital’s lobby and used for educational purposes.

    “The quilt will be used to increase awareness of the Susan G. Komen vision of ‘a world without breast cancer’, and the presence of the organization here in rural Pennsylvania to reach that goal,” explained Project Organizer Paulette Schreiber, CRNP.

    Anyone with or without quilting experience is encouraged to be a part of the project. Each participant will be given a quilt kit including instructions, a square of muslin and three additional fabric squares.

    Schreiber has teamed up with local quilter Jorae Yorns, owner of Jorae’s Quilt located at 165 Mill St. in Ridgway. Yorns has donated the kits which can be picked up at her store during regular business hours between Sept. 24 and Oct. 11.

    Participants are asked to use the material provided, but are encouraged to add their own material and embellish the squares with any mementos, pins, buttons, embroidered words, etc. which would represent the experience of living with breast cancer, honoring a loved one, or paying tribute to those who are working each day towards prevention and treatment.

    “Anyone can participate in this project. You do not need to be an expert quilter,” Schreiber noted. “Jorae will provide additional instructions to those who have never quilted.”

    Participants are asked to return the completed squares by Nov. 1 and to include a simple written description of the symbols used in the quilt. If the square is being done to honor an individual, information about that person should also be included.

    Colors for the quilt will consist of pink, the color representing breast cancer awareness, and a contrasting green square which symbolizes life, well being and the fact that “greening” our lives may decrease the risk of breast cancer.

    In addition each participant is asked to donate $1 for the actual quilting process.

    Although the mortality rate from breast cancer has decreased due to factors such as early detection, one in eight women are diagnosed with the disease.

    “As long as even one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, the job is not complete,” Schreiber stated. “We must do more to actually prevent the disease that affects one in eight women today.”