Sew much love: 300 pouches gifted to cancer patients in a week

A volunteer-powered initiative providing free handcrafted pouches to cancer patients has achieved a heart-warming milestone: 300 pouches gifted in just one week.

The practical pouches add a touch of comfort to patients, sewn by volunteers using fabric donated by the community.

Giving Bags of Hope gifted its first bag to a cancer patient in October 2024. So far, it has delivered more than 950 of them through its partners and cancer treatment centres.

In the last 10 months, it has been building a network of needleworkers, volunteers, ambassadors and retail outlets to act as collection and distribution points throughout Thames Valley.

Giving Bags of Hope uses Craft Coops in both Maidenhead and Windsor. It is partnered with Genesis Care and Princess Margaret Hospital in Windsor, and NHS Frimley Health, which runs Wexham Park Hospital and Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot.

Every patient care plan is different, so the bags are empty initially and filled by the patient with the essentials required to make their treatment day more comfortable.

“Every pouch carries a message of care,” said Carol Anne Doyle, co-founder of Giving Bags of Hope.

“They’re not just practical – they’re also a reminder to patients that they are not on this difficult journey alone.”

The non-profit says ‘demand is great’ for the bags, and to keep up with requests, it is now fundraising to purchase additional embroidery and sewing machines.

Donations however big or small are appreciated and can be made via its GoFundMe page Giving Bags Of Hope.