THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 15, 1994 TAG: 9407140172
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ANKE OTTO-WOLF, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
The slogans are familiar.
Mammograms save lives. Breast cancer knows no seasons. Breast cancer indiscriminately attacks the famous and the nameless, without warning.
Personal crusades against breast cancer have brought a group of six women, all members of the Tidewater Quilters Guild, together to rally for a single cause by creating the ``Mammogram Quilt of Tidewater.''
Their aim is to raise money to offer financial support for mammograms and other services to fight breast cancer. Two of the women are the actual quilters, the others take care of financial development, public relations and exhibit tours.
``This quilt is being stitched to raise money for women who are underinsured or not insured at all,'' said Susan Clark, a Navy wife who chose to stay home to raise a small child, but volunteers many hours by bringing public awareness to the quilt cause.
Her own golf ball sized abnormality was detected through a mammogram and removed from her breast.
``Thank God, it was benign,'' she said.
Patsy Monk, a registered nurse who is one of the two stitchers in the group, said, ``For me it is a very personal crusade. My mother died of breast cancer.
``Although, she lived many years after her breast was removed, I am convinced, with early detection through a mammogram, she'd still be with me. A mammogram is early detection, it works almost like a smoke alarm in your house. It warns at the earliest sign, and we can do something about it.''
``Breast cancer attacks women close to the heart,'' Clark said and went on to explain the meaningful quilt design. ``The log cabin with the tree of life is representing womanhood; the center is in red representing the hearth, the heart of being. And the corners are school house blocks embellished with the four seasons, reminding that cancer can hit all year-round.''
The women are driven to complete the quilt. Saphrona Brewington stitches while she spends hours sitting at her husband's hospital bedside. ``She has done most of the work. It's beautiful,'' Clark said. ``She is incredible. I think it's keeping her sane while she is waiting to find out about her husband.''
There are other reasons this project is so precious. For instance, the material was donated by the husband of a guild member who recently passed away because of breast cancer.
People who donate money to the quilt cause are being recognized by having the image of their business card transferred onto the back of the quilt. There's room for about 100 business cards to be displayed there, and they hope to raise $3,000 that way.
``The fund-raising process is slow, too slow. Right now, we can only help three women, because the average cost for a mammogram in the Tidewater area is $100,'' said Clark. ``There are many women out there who choose to buy food for their children first and not have a mammogram. This is un-accept-able.''
According to Eleanor Bowman who oversees the fund-raising finances, the group asks for only a $25 donation to qualify for the business card image on the back panel.
Every penny raised is turned over to the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation for distribution.
Whether the Tidewater Mammogram Quilt will be auctioned, or go on a fund-raising tour has not been decided. However, it's definite that, at the time of completion in October, it will go on display at the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts.
This work of love and compassion for sisterhood will be on display in illustrious company during a Tidewater Quilters Guild show, said Lori Moum. Nationally known quilter Kaye Wood will give the keynote address and Nina Miller's ``Survivors Quilt'' with signatures by Julia Child and Jill Ireland, among others, arrives from California for the same show.
``We donate time and emotion because we're all touched by cancer,'' Clark said. ``We call on everyone out there. Please help us help others.'' MEMO: For more information on the Tidewater Mammogram Quilt call Susan Clark
at 468-9425.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Lori Moum, left, Saphrona Brewington, Eleanor Baumann and Patsy
Monk, along with Susan Clark, are putting together this ``Mammogram
Quilt of Tidewater'' to raise money to pay for women to have
mammograms. Brewington made this part of the quilt, which features a
``tree of life'' in the center.
by CNB