Quilt For A CureTM

The story of Bonnie Stratton and Quilt For A Cure has been told most eloquently in an article by freelance writer, Mariann Garner-Wizard:

"When fabric designer Bonnie Benn Sratton's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991, at age 80, Stratton knew little about the disease--but she learned, and was appalled. As she pondered what she could do, the answer soon became clear.

"Most quilter and quilt shop owners are women, so in 1996, Stratton began designing "Quilt For A Cure" fabric collections. Part of the purchase price of each yard of all of Stratton's fabrics, marketed through Merryvale, Ltd., in Oakton, VA, goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Every QFC bolt carries breast cancer information, and each collection includes a fabric featuring the QFC logo (a length of pink ribbon stitched into a loop.) The 100% cotton mateials are manufactured by Timeless Treasures, Inc., a division of Hi-Fashion Fabrics, Inc. in New York, NY.

"Stratton's 2001 collection, The Healing Garden, was inspired by a quilter who had found solace during her ultimately unsuccessful battle with cancer in the beautiful Meadowlark Gardens near her home in Virginia. A year after her death, Meadowlark dedicated "Lenore's Garden" in her memory. Each of the nine designs in The Healing Garden collection represents a plant whose constituents are being used or researched for cancer treatment.

"Today there is new hope for breast cancer patients. Stratton's mother, a 12-year survivor, travels widely to promote the search for a cure. And Bonnie Stratton's own words say it best, as she recently pieced a quilt square for a friend just diagnosed with cancer...'Sewing the pieces together, focusing on the friend or loved one who is ill, bring my desire for her healing into the physical world, manifesting it in a way that can be seen and touched. It connects me with those who need to actually feel the support of their friends. I can be there with them, through the quilt, as they work for recovery.'"

Over the past 12 years, Quilt For A Cure has become an inspirational force behind the nation's quilters, as they continue to work with the exquisite Quilt For A Cure fabrics. Merryvale, Ltd. also distributes pins and informative hangtags. Through their publicity and advertising, they help to spread the word within the quilting industry about the work being done through BCRF grants, and to provide information and a better sense of the role of research in treating and finding a cure for breast cancer.

McCall's Quilting
This beautiful quilting magazine supports the QFC efforts by publishing an annual QFC pattern and featuring a stunning QFC quilt on the cover of their JUNE issue. Ten cents from every copy sold of that issue is donated to the BCRF. Visit our McCall's Quilting page in this section, here.