Jump into a crafty challenge for young cancer patients

Crumbz Craft Owner Kay Trembath encourages the locals to participate in a challege to support kids with cancer. PICTURES: DONGYUN KWON

By Dongyun Kwon

A local haberdashery is running a challenge to support children and families living with cancer until the end of September.

Crumbz Craft has done several fundraisers every year but had to pause it for a while when the Covid-19 pandemic happened.

This year, they were able to restart a fundraiser with the Crumbz Craft Challenge.

Shop owner Kay Trembath said she decided to run the challenge when she met a lady who told her about a local retreat house offering respite and support to kids with cancer one Friday in the knitting group.

“We’d like to do something every year that brings the community together for a worthy cause,” she said.

“This year, we’ve chosen the Challenge organisation (Nicholas Timms Retreat) because the organisation is based in Healesville.”

The craft challenge runs for the whole of September as it is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Kay said they had yellow ribbons which were for introducing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the challenge in the shop.

“If anybody wants to pop in and buy a yellow ribbon, they can display it anywhere they like,” she said.

“They can put it on their bike, letterbox or handbag to raise awareness of the challenge.”

Kay explained the three different ways for the local community to get involved in the challenge.

The first one is crocheting.

“Crocheters are welcome to participate by crocheting squares,” she said.

“We’re going to hopefully make five throws for the challenge house.”

The second way is knitting.

“We’ll make 100 baby mittens for children in hospitals,” Kay said.

“The mittens will help babies to keep their hands warm and stop them from pulling out their life-saving tubes.”

The last is a direct donation.

“If you don’t knit or crochet but want to get involved, you can sponsor the challenge through a direct donation on our website,” she said.

Whoever is interested in supporting young children with cancer please visit Crumbz Craft’s website, www.crumbz.com.au/pages/crumbz-challenge-for-charity.