KNITTING Nannas from a North Yorkshire care home have been helping to raise money for the UK’s largest arthritis charity by producing woollen owls.
The elderly knitting group from Hazelgrove Court Care Home, Randolph Street, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, got out their knitting needles to support Versus Arthritis.
The group produced dozens of small owls in various colours for the charity’s knitting challenge, before selling them to visitors and staff at the care home.
The Knitting Nannas group has taken part in a knit-a-thon for Versus Arthritis previously, as well as contributed to a knitted sculpture in Saltburn, and produced cuddly woollen creatures for those living with dementia, among other knitting challenges.
Their latest saw the group produce 71 owls, raising £71 for the arthritis charity, which provides support, information, and guidance for those living with the condition.
The Hill Care Group, which operates Hazelgrove Court Care Home, challenged all of their care homes to raise as much as possible for the charity – with Hazelgrove coming out on top in the North East and Yorkshire, netting them £50 for their residents’ fund.
In total the group raised £232.50 for Versus Arthritis.
Ellen Else, 92, was one of those who took part. She said: “It has been great knitting for Versus Arthritis. At my age, I’m delighted I can still help fundraise for a very worthy charity.”
Joyce Wooffindin, 82, said: “I have loved being able to be part of the fundraising, as many people suffer with arthritis, myself being one of them.”
Joyce Baxtrem, 92, who previously knitted a 150ft scarf to keep her occupied during the pandemic, said: “I just love knitting as it keeps me nice and busy. Knitting the owls was a lot easier than the lockdown scarf, that’s for sure.
“I’m delighted we won the Hill Care competition. We can buy more wool for our next project now.”
Sharon Lewis, activities coordinator at Hazelgrove Court Care Home, said: “Our Knitting Nannas are delighted we have won the competition.
“They love helping people and they said raising funds and winning the competition means all the hours of knitting have paid off.”
A spokesperson for Versus Arthritis said: “There are over ten million people living with arthritis. That’s one in six, with over half of those living in pain every single day.
“The impact is huge as the condition slowly intrudes on everyday life – affecting the ability to work, care for a family, to move free from pain and to live independently. Yet arthritis is often dismissed as an inevitable part of ageing or shrugged off as ‘just a bit of arthritis’.
“Funds raised from events such as the knitting challenge go towards helping those with arthritis through our research as well as helping people directly with our helpline and support groups.
“We won’t rest until everyone with arthritis has access to the treatments and support they need to live the life they choose with real hope of a cure in the future. Your donations make it happen.”