Gunnedah resident Yvonne Argent is on a mission to find knitters to knit knockers.
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Yes, you read that right.
Ms Argent is set to launch the Knitted Knockers Knitathon on April 19 in aid of women who have undergone a single or double mastectomy.
Knitted knockers are cotton prosthetics, which are quick to make and can be placed in womens bras post-surgery or long-term.
The long-time CWA member and regional representative for Namoi Group was inspired to organise the knitathon after her own double mastectomy in January 2017, following a diagnosis of breast cancer earlier that month.
In May, she found out that she carries the BRCA1 gene, an identified fault or mutation which is commonly linked to an increased risk of breast or ovarian cancer, or both.
I have a strong family history of breast cancer. Out of 24 cousins of my generation, 21 have been affected by cancer, she said.
Having the BRCA gene means every female in the family needs to be tested after the age of 40, yearly, and every male needs to be tested bi-yearly for prostate cancer.
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It was during her time in a Tamworth hospital following her double mastectomy that Ms Argent realised there was a need for cancer departments to have the prosthetics on hand for breast cancer patients.
She has since issued a call to the CWA branches in the Namoi Group.
Through the CWA, I have issued a state-wide challenge to organise a Knitted Knockers Knitathon and donate them to their local cancer centre, she said.
It is Ms Argents vision that knitters across the state take up their needles and produce as many knitted knockers as they can.
People dont realise how many women are affected [by breast cancer], she said.
Theres so much volunteers can do to make it better for women.
Im hope we can make it an annual event.
The knitathon will be held in the Gunnedah CWA rooms from 9.30am-3.30pm with a cost of $3 per person. Knitters are asked to bring their own needles a set of four needles or a set of two needles (needles must be 3.75mm) or crochet hook (3.5mm). There is a specific pattern for the knitted knockers, which will be supplied at the knitathon.
Ms Argent is hoping McGrath breast care nurse will be able to drop into the knitathon and take a load of prosthetics back to the North West Cancer Centre.
For more information on the knitathon, contact Yvonne Argent on 0490 926 917.
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