Knitters! Durham Fair Offers Chemo Cap Project

Volunteers with the Durham Fair want to make sure every patient at the Smilow Cancer Center at Yale-New Haven Hospital has a warm head this winter.

So, the fair's Needlework Department has organized the Durham Fair Chemo Cap service project which encourages people to knit, crochet or sew a winter cap to donate to the hospital.

"It'll be just the right weather by the time we sort through them," said Mary-Ann Bergstrom of Durham.

Bergstrom and fellow Durham resident Debbie Bellemare teamed up last year to organize Caps for Soliders, a similar fundraising effort for soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We ended up collecting over 140 caps for soldiers. We're really, really hoping for a good showing this year," Bergstrom said.

This year's project is aimed at helping children and adults undergoing chemotherapy treatments at the New Haven hospital.

Anyone interested in donating a cap may also choose to enter their cap in the Knit exhibit at this year's Durham Fair, which takes place Sept. 27-30.

Winners in several categories will receive a small prize.

"If people want to donate their prize money, they can donate that as well, if they'd like," Bergstrom said.

Caps must be made using all natural materials so that they won't be itchy — like cotton. They can be dropped-off at the Durham Public Library or at the Needlework Building during the fair.

Pattern books are available at the Durham and Middlefield libraries as well as both towns' senior centers. Knitters may also be as creative as they'd like, Bergstrom said.

Be sure to include the attached form (see PDF) to your hat if you plan to enter it.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary-Ann Bergstrom at merebb@gmail.com or (860) 349-3229 after 5 p.m., or Debbie Bellemare at Bellemareda@comcast.net or (860) 349-8248.