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North Kingstown home-schoolers spent six months making a quilt to raise money for a local girl with leukemia
NORTH KINGSTOWN — Local home-schoolers came together and hand-sewed a quilt that will be auctioned off on E-bay to benefit 5-year old Georgia Wettergren of North Kingstown.
Last May Wettergren was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia and she’s almost a year into her two-and-a-half year treatment of chemotherapy.
“If all goes well she’ll be done with treatment in the fall of 2009. She’s done fabulous with the treatment. There’s been no complications or hospitalization. It’s been a real blessing,” said Wettergren’s mother Jenn.
Wettergren receives chemotherapy weekly and spinal chemotherapy every two to four months at the Tomorrow Fund at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
“I met Georgia’s mother, Jenn, through the North Kingstown-Davisville mom’s club. We started making the quilt last year along with seven to 10 young girls. Once it was complete we knew we wanted to donateit to charity and Georgia was on the top of our list,” said Christy Reynolds.
Reynolds is part of the Rhode Island Guild of Home Teachers and once a month, the guild has a home economics classes during which the quilt was made.
The group — comprised of Avanelle Brock, Anna Gedeon, Hannah Reynolds, Michaela Reynolds, Hannah Robillard, Madeline Towne and Patience Towne — worked diligently on the quilt and it took about six months to complete.
“It was a tough project for the children to do but it was fun and was a learning experience because they knew the meaning behind it,” said Reynolds.
The bidding for the quilt will be held March 1 through March 10. To find the quilt on E-Bay, type in “Early-American-Style Quilt made by Home Schoolers,” seller ID 0aslan0 (zero aslan zero).
“Christy has kept me updated on the quilt project and having it on E-Bay is a way for both my husband and my family who live in northern New York and Chicago to be a part of this,” said Jenn.
There have been three successful fundraisers, two in Rhode Island and one in up-state New York, and selling the quilt online will give family members a chance to see the progress of the donations.
“There’s no way for us to put on the account that it’s for charity, E-Bay doesn’t allow that, just to help prevent scams. But we want to let everyone know that every penny is going towards Georgia and her family. Her family does have medical insurance but it doesn’t cover everything so the proceeds will help aid in the medical bills and other expenses,” said Reynolds.
When Georgia was first diagnosed, a fund was set up titled “Georgia’s Fund”. All proceeds from fundraisers and donations go directly into the account to help the Wettergrens with medical bills and everyday expenses.
“I go into the account bi-weekly and there are numerous donations from people I don’t know. It’s a fulfilling feeling that our community cares about our family,” said Jenn Wettergren.
Georgia got an early Christmas gift on Dec. 20, when after treatment, she met Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus.
“Georgia loves Miley, she has her music and programs. When she first got diagnosed, she had no idea who Hannah Montana was. But the Disney Channel would broadcast the show all day and night and Georgia soon became a huge fan. It was so beautiful for me to see her face light up. It was the best Christmas we received, ” said Jenn.
For more information on the quilt auction or to see the quilt in person before making a bid, call Christy Reynolds at 294-7747. |
