Quilter Inspires Hope During Breast Cancer Awareness Month
After two busy decades running a business, raising a family and coaching cheer, Kim Garro decided she needed a hobby. “I needed to do something for me,” Kim explains. So, she entered the world of quilting and has become an award-winning quilter active with the Sierra Quilt Guild.
But as it turns out, even Kim’s hobbies are all about serving others. Her quilts are often gifts she creates specifically to give away. When a friend passed away from breast cancer a few years ago, Kim offered to sort through the quilting supplies she left behind. Kim found a beautiful assortment of textiles and assembled the fabric into a meaningful quilt, full of symbolism to memorialize her friend – a touching gift for her friend’s grieving daughter.
Recently, Kim found a “what cancer cannot do” pattern on the free table at a Sierra Quilt Guild meeting. “I was immediately drawn to this pattern,” Kim says. “I picked it up and thought, ‘This pattern has a story.’”
Kim decided to make the quilt so she could continue this woman’s life story. “The breast cancer ribbon honors survivors and remembers those lost to the disease and supports the progress we are making together to defeat breast cancer,” Kim explains. And she likes the messages of “what cancer cannot do.” Phrases stitched on the quilt include:
- Cancer cannot shatter hope.
- Cancer cannot destroy peace.
- Cancer cannot stifle laughter.
- Cancer cannot erase memories.
- Cancer cannot silence courage.
Kim is giving this quilt as a gift to Adventist Health Sonora’s Cancer Patient Support Fund. The quilt will be auctioned at this year’s Ladies Night Out for Breast Cancer Awareness, which will be held on October 26, 2023, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Diana J. White Cancer Institute in Sonora.
Ladies Night Out is a free community event focused on raising awareness about breast health that includes information about breast cancer screening, prevention and treatment; pop-up shops from local stores and artisans; complimentary chair massages and beauty treatments and much more.
This year, a silent auction and other giving opportunities at Ladies Night Out will support the Cancer Patient Support Fund. Every dollar goes to help families facing cancer in our community with a full range of needs including insurance and medication co-pays, transportation, groceries, housecleaning and so much more.
Those who attend the event can bid on Kim’s beautiful quilt and enjoy the many other activities. They may also have a chance to meet Kim, who, in addition to being a gifted quilter, is also an inspiring citizen. She is involved with several community service organizations and is co-founder of Lantern of Light, a faith-based suicide prevention ministry.
Visit AdventistHealthSonora.org/LadiesNightOut to RSVP!
