The following article is adapted from the Australian Cystic Fibrosis foundation web page.
Dace Shugg
"65 Roses" is what some children with cystic fibrosis (CF) call their disease because the words are much easier for them to pronounce.
Mary G. Weiss became a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1965 after learning that her three little boys had CF. Her duty was to call every civic club, social and service organisation seeking financial support for CF research. Mary's 4-year-old son, Richard, listened closely to his mother as she made each call.
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The Weiss brothers, Richard, 5; Arthur, 7 and Anthony, 16 months |
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After several calls, Richard came into the room and told his Mom, "I know what you are working for." Mary was dumbstruck because Richard did not even know that he had cystic fibrosis. With some trepidation, Mary asked, "What am I working for, Richard?" He answered, "You are working for 65 Roses." Mary was speechless. He could not see the tears running down his mother's cheeks as she stammered, "Yes Richard, I'm working for 65 Roses."
Since then, the term "65 Roses" has been used by children of all ages to describe their disease. But, making it easier to say does not make CF any easier to live with. The "65 Roses" story has captured the hearts and emotions of all who have heard it. The rose, appropriately the ancient symbol of love, has become a symbol of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
In 2010, CF families are still making calls to civic organisations and service clubs in order to raise money for research into a cure for this devastating condition. Tasmania, the small Island state of Australia has the second highest CF incidence rate in the world (after Ireland). In Australia, CF families have been greatly helped by the fact that a national real estate company (Realtors) called LJ Hooker, have been for many years the main National sponsor for fundraising for CF research. This has meant that auctions of donated goods are regularly held at gala functions and that the auctions are conducted by experienced auctioneers.
This year, my daughter-in-law, Kathreen Ricketson, who is writing her second book on the popular craft of quilting, has included a design in her book specifically for CF '65 Roses Quilt', this quilt will be donated for an upcoming CF fundraising event. Making quilts for a good cause is not at all new to the quilting world. Women have been making quilts for charity as long as they have been making quilts. Quilters say that making charity quilts comes with the territory - that it is simply the right thing to do. They make charity quilts for the sense of pride one gets from doing a good deed, to create a sense of belonging with your community and to be useful. This '65 Roses' quilt is perfect for making with a group of friends or your quilt group. It involves a simple base block of four 5inch squares sewn together and a rose appliqued or embroidered in the top left square. Once you have collected or made 60 of these blocks, they are then arranged around a central appliqué block made up of 5 roses - totally 65 rose blocks in all. The fabulous thing about a community quilt like this one is that one person does not have to do all the work, and lots of people get a chance to contribute a little something. Here is the design for this quilt - feel free to distribute this simple and colourful quilt design and use this design to make many quilts to be donated to charities in your local area.
