Hello, I hope you are sitting warm and comfortable with a cuppa ready to enjoy this month’s newsletter.

My name is Jenny Ayden, and I am an ex-Aucklander, having moved to Thames when I retired in 2021. My role on the committee is Education and Development. Along with a subcommittee, I look at the applications that come in from individuals and groups for funding to help them bring their ideas and plans into being. The information and application forms are on the website.

This month I want to share with you a story to remind you all how special the gift of a quilt is. We often are so used to making and gifting them we take them for granted, forgetting what a special gift they are.

I am the New Zealand nanny to a family of three children whose grandparents are in England. A couple of years ago we were shocked when the 10 year old, Josie, was diagnosed with Ewings sarcoma, a tumour in her elbow. She was rushed into Starship Hospital and chemotherapy started without a chance for me to say goodbye and give her a hug.

Her mother said that the one thing she wanted to take with her to hospital was her quilt, a bright star quilt with rainbow centres. She said she understood I couldn’t visit her so when she wanted a “Jenny hug” she was going to wrap herself in the quilt which she called her magic blanket.

Her chemotherapy was for 5 days at a time and then 10 days later back again for 2 days. This went on for a number of months. Her mum sent many photos, many were of a big lump in the bed covered in the quilt – the title a bad day today. Fortunately, a few happier ones too.

Being far away and at a loss of what I could do for her I asked what she wanted me to do for her. Her response rocked me. She asked if I could make some quilts for children who came into the cancer ward at Starship so they could also have “Hugs” She wanted to have a quilt on each bed when the children came into the hospital and wanted the children to take them home.

With the help of friends for sewathons, gifts of fabric and batting we made 20 quilts – one for each of her chemo sessions. We sewed on labels saying the quilt was a gift from her and she was sending love. When she had finished her treatment we took her back to Starship to hand over the quilts.

Next time you give a quilt to someone no matter their age, you might be thinking of it as just another quilt. Remember it is a gift of love and caring. A special gift.

A footnote, Josie has just turned 13 and fingers crossed her scans are clear and she is a beautiful young woman of whom we are all very proud.

Enjoy your read and I look forward to hearing from some more of you with funding applications.

Jenny Ayden

Josie with her magic blanket at the start of her treatment