Knitting for an important cause
On Wednesday afternoons in Rhuddlan Library, there is a group who meet to chat, knit and raise awareness for an important cause.
The knitting group get together to knit and crochet an array of woollen items to raise funds and awareness about Pulmonary Fibrosis, a condition that many in the group have been impacted by.
Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease where there is scarring of the lungs which makes it difficult to breathe. The scarring causes the tissues in the lungs to get thick and stiff, making it hard to absorb oxygen into the bloodstream. Pulmonary fibrosis affects around 70,000 people in the UK.
Started by Sue and Jackie, who have a family member who is impacted by the disease, the knitting group was set up in a conservatory originally, but has now moved to the library due to growing attendance.
Now almost a month since their move to the library space, the attendance has almost tripled in size, with 15 people showing up with their knitting needles at a recent meet up.
The group sell the woollen items to raise funds for the cause, and anything that isn’t sold is donated to other local causes, with 15 blankets to the Salvation Army over the Christmas period. They are currently gearing up for Easter and are busy knitting a number of woollen ducks, chicks, bunnies and lambs.
An awareness raising coffee morning was held in the community last September, which raised over £2,500 towards the cause, and another is planned for this September.
The group said: "We are just so grateful to the Library for allowing us to use the space and being so welcoming and are highly recommended as a venue.
"Can we also thank all the knitting volunteers, anyone is welcome.”
Councillor Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture & Heritage said: “Libraries are spaces within our communities that have transcended just reading, and the meeting of this awareness group is a prime example of this.
"I am so glad to see that the space is being used to host such a good cause, with such brilliant woollen creations to match!”