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Carn women do their knit for
charity
18.09.11
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
A group of retired women from Inishowen have dusted
off their knitting needles in a colourful effort to
raise money for fellow pensioners this week.
As part of the ‘Innocent Big Knit’ campaign the
plucky pensioners at Carn Day Hospital are creating
quirky knitted caps for juice and smoothie bottles,
earning 25 cent for Age Action Ireland for every
one.
Under the guidance of staff nurse Maggie White, who
admits that she can’t knit herself, around fifteen
Inishowen ladies have already crafted hundreds of
beautiful mini hats.
“It keeps them all active and they are really
getting behind it. The women were more than happy to
do it, especially since they are helping fellow
pensioners by doing something for the elderly. There
are a lot of great knitters here,” Maggie said. |
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Retired women at Carn Day Hospital
join the ‘Innocent Big Knit’ campaign. |
With women from Carn,
Gleneely, Culdaff, Malin and beyond involved, it is
no wonder that many Innocent drinks were sold out
last week! The eager labourers have an added
incentive too with the group that makes the most
hats by October 14 in line for an extra special
prize.
With local pensioners attending Carn Day Hospital up
to five days a week if they wish there is always
something going on at the community hub. The service
is free with a small charge for dinner, which is
optional.
“There are lots of activities to keep people coming
back, such as painting, knitting, bingo,
bucket-making and gardening. We also have music in
the centre and go for day trips; we are just back
from an outing to Lisfannon,” nurse Maggie White
said.
“The older people also love speakers calling in,
like local guards and firemen,” she added.
With an average age of more than 80, around twice as
many women as men attend regularly. When it comes to
the knitting though it’s strictly the ladies who are
involved!
“I don’t think men have changed that much,” Maggie
joked.
Last year a whopping 80,000 little hats were knitted
by people all over Ireland as part of the Innocent
Big Knit, raising €20,000 and much needed awareness
for Age Action Ireland. The funds were used to
ensure that older people in Ireland stayed well and
warm during the cold winter. |
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