Last year Saprotex produced 3000 knitting kits to be sold to the public for South Africans to join in with the rest of the world on the International Day of Knitting In Public (KIP) with the aim behind our knitting to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer and the Breast Health Foundation.  Our KIP day initiative proved to be a roaring success with the kits being sold out virtually on the first day!  This year we have raised the stakes and are aiming to make 20 000 kits available to eager knitters and have thousands of people knitting in public for this worthy and important cause.

Members of the public each knit a square at participating venues, be it coffee shops, restaurants and various public spots.  The participating venues will be announced closer to the time.  Your local yarn store will have KIP day kits for you to buy and will be able to inform you where participating venues will be.  Our representatives then collect the squares from the shops and we then sew them together to provide patients in need of much needed blankets that provide warmth and comfort while they undergo treatment for breast cancer.  It also adds to them keeping their dignity and not feeling exposed during their examinations.

The blankets were recently handed out to Dr Carol Benn, trustee member of the BHF (Breast Health Foundation) and head doctor at the Helen Joseph Hospital Breast Clinic where guest speakers and breast cancer survivors, among them local celebrity, Lilian Dube spoke about the importance of regular check-ups and being well informed.  Our next KIP day will be on the 14 June 2008 and on the second Saturday of June every year onwards, should you want to show your support for this worthy cause.  For more information, contact Sharon Farr at 0826522335 or on email at sfarr@bertrand.co.za