Description

This kit has been curated in memory of my oldest sister, Sharon Bender, who succumbed to multiple myeloma last year.

Those of you who live in Texas may have met my sister.  Although she still lived in Michigan, each spring she would come to Texas to visit our family here.  She usually returned to Michigan by August, when it got “way too hot.”  While here, she would vend with me at the Houston Fiber Fest.  She wasn’t a knitter or crocheter, but was a lover of all things wool and was incredibly knit-worthy.  She had very “sticky” fingers and would come into my dye room, find knit samples and they would disappear – into her suitcase!

During Spring of 2021, while sheltering here in Texas during the pandemic, she was diagnosed with late stage multiple myeloma.  She passed away in August 2021.  This benefit is being done to honor her memory and to help others who are suffering with this horrible, incredibly painful disease.

Multiple Myeloma is a cancer that effects the bone marrow, producing cancerous plasma cells in the bones and blood.  These cells multiply rapidly, crowding out normal blood-forming cells in the bone marrow, reducing the production of healthy blood cells and weakening bones.   It is a cancer that has very few symptoms in early stages and most people are not diagnosed until they are in the late stages.  Men are slightly more likely to develop multiple myeloma than women and Black people are twice as likely to develop myeloma than people of other races.

During the course of my sister’s illness, she was able to join a support group affiliated with the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (“MMRF”).  Through the support group, the MMRF was able to alert patients of various medications and treatments that are available to assist them in putting this cancer into remission.  For those who choose not to seek treatment, they were able to assist in locating and providing services to provide comfort to the patient.

MMRF is dedicated to research and finding a cure for Multiple Myeloma.  Through donations raised by the foundation, they have helped bring 15 new drugs to market and increased the life expectancy of sufferers three times over.  This is not your typical cancer research foundation; they believe in “a disciplined, pragmatic approach” and “a vision to disrupt the cancer research status quo.”  This leads to “innovative and rigorous models that are reinventing cancer research.”

I spoke about my desire to do this kit to my friend, Romi Hill.  Her compassion simply overwhelms me.  She was so incredibly kind to me while I was attending to my sister.  She has so graciously designed this beautiful shawl to be included in this kit.  She has not only designed this shawl, but is also donating the price of each pattern sold in the kit to MMRF through November 30, 2022.  The beauty of this shawl is that it can also be  used to commemorate many other charities that use the ribbon as their symbol by just knitting the pattern in that charity’s ribbon color.

This fundraiser ended on December 10, 2022, however, I would like to keep it going with the following modifications:

This kit contains 2 skeins of my Crown Feathers DK base, which is 70% SW Merino and 30% Mulberry Silk, 246 yds. per skein.  The Colorway is The Burgundy Ribbon.  The kit also contains a burgundy ribbon enamel pin that you can put on your project bag.   For each kit sold, $10 will be donated to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.  The pattern may be purchased on Romi’s website or on her Ravelry page.  Shipping is free for all those in the United States.  Just choose the Flat Rate – MRFF choice from the drop down list.  Your package will ship Priority with tracking for free.

Romi’s Website:  https://designsbyromi.com/product/ribbons-shawl/

Romi’s Ravelry page:  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ribbons-shawl

Please help combat this dreadful disease and a very sincere “Thank You” for each of you who purchase this kit.