The Community Service Committee of the Loose Bead Society of Greater Milwaukee is proud to
announce their partnership with the Reinhart Chemo Cap Crew headed by Ellen Persik who is
employed by Reinhard Boerner Van Deuren, S. C.
Through word of mouth and Ellen's kind-hearted persistence, the Chemo Cap Crew was born
in May 2002 as part of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign. After Ellen
spoke to her employers about her idea to create a Chemo Cap Crew, they agreed to buy the
fabric. The next piece to the puzzle was finding women who could sew and they put the first
chemo cap together. Since then, more than 6,000 caps have been made by the crew and received
by women throughout the United States.
In her search for a way to make a difference, Ellen learned that women undergoing
chemotherapy and other medical treatments often lose their hair. Chemo caps help
keep their heads warm and also provide a colorful option for women to feel good
about themselves during this traumatic time. Check out this
letter of appreciation
from Dr. Barylak from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic in Two Rivers, WI.
Our LBS Community Service Committee is looking for LBS members willing to cut out fabric
pieces and decorate the sewn caps. The sewing is done by volunteers who eagerly await the
fabric pieces. Caps can also be knitted or crocheted. Caps ready for decoration will
be available at our monthly meetings where finished caps can also be turned in.
We hope that this will be an ongoing collaboration between the two groups for this most worthy cause.
We've always been impressed by the talent of our members. And now we're equally impressed with their generosity.
Since our association with the Reinhart Chemo Cap Crew began, we have donated well over 80 beautifully decorated caps
for distribution to ladies around the state who are going through chemotherapy. In addition, our honorary Las
Vegas member (Pat McSharry) has donated 80 knit or crocheted caps. We are so proud to be associated with this
organization. You define "Community Service"!
So you know how appreciated our effort is, please see this
letter from
Beth Peterman.
Ellen recently forwarded me another thank you she received in e-mail. Here is most of the message:
Dear Ellen and the chemo cap crew:
A huge thank you for the wonderful caps.
I have distributed them to all 10 of our offices.
We appreciate you so much.
God Bless all of you.
Thank you all for everything you do. You are indeed angels here on earth.
Sincerely,
Carol Paul
Aurora Advanced Oncology East
Here's another lovely letter we received from a chemotherapy patient in Eugene, Oregon:
Received the chemo cap just in time, two days before all of my hair fell
out. I had no idea how very cold my head would get without hair so that
cap came just in time and is perfect--nice and soft.
I'm constantly amazed how many people I know (and don't know) who have
stepped up to help during a hard time in my life and how something as
small as a ride to chemotherapy or a soft hat can mean so much. Thank
you for being another one of my angels.
Francie
Caps can be decorated by the following methods (keep in mind that anything added to the cap must be washable):
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Please do not use glue-ons and avoid anything inside the cap that may cause irritation to
the scalp such as knots, etc. Make sure whatever you add to the cap will stay put as they
are sometimes recycled by the women who no longer need them.
Knit and crocheted caps are also acceptable using soft yarns only, nothing scratchy or
irritating such as wool.
Knit Chemo Cap Pattern
Crochet Chemo
Cap Pattern
You can do one or as many as you'd like to in order to contribute to this worthy cause.
Additional caps will be available for decoration as they become available. Your efforts are
greatly appreciated by the women who need them and by the Chemo Cap Crew.
Please watch for recipient testimonies on our web site and newsletter in the coming
months.
Thanks for your support.
Contact Michele De'Brabant for more
information.