Local Soroptimist International chapter supplies comfort to cancer patients
The road to recovery following a cancer diagnosis often can be a challenging and lonely one to navigate.
That’s why members of Soroptimist International of Butler County, a local volunteer organization that focuses on empowering women and girls, are doing everything they can to comfort patients through the most difficult moments of chemotherapy treatment.
Shortly after longtime member Michelle Schnur died in 2014 following a battle with breast cancer, the group formed a special committee, Michelle’s Mission, in her honor.
Since its formation, the committee has handcrafted and distributed more than 600 blankets to children and adults in need of some much-needed warmth as they cope with the disease.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” said Marianne Hill, the group’s president. “Because of the chemo that they’re getting, people get chilly pretty easily. It’s something they take home with them. We’ve been told that many of them bring the blanket back every time they receive their chemo. It’s really heartwarming.”
Michelle’s Mission meets several times a year to purchase the fabric and create the specialty fleece blankets that come in a variety of colors and designs. Each blanket is hand-cut, tied and wrapped. They are finished off with a ribbon, a tag that explains the group’s mission and a photo of Schnur that tells her story.
“We make them as bright and jazzy as we can,” Hill said. “We have blankets that are good for men, women and children.”
Several members of the organization said they feel a personal connection to the blanket-making process after their loved ones were diagnosed with cancer.
“It’s very special to me because my dad actually died of pancreatic cancer,” said Laura Ankrom, an active member and former cochairwoman. “My dad received one (a blanket), and he was like ‘Wow, think about it. Someone made this for me to receive.’ Whenever he got that, I was like ‘good.’ These people appreciate it, and it’s something simple that we can give to them in a time that is very hard because you don’t know the outcome.”
Former president Donna Sybert said she feels especially moved by the group’s contributions after her mother fought breast cancer.
“My mother battled breast cancer twice,” she said. “She drew great comfort that others cared enough to think of her during her fight and appreciated the gifts, blankets and other items that were presented to her.”
