A CRAFTY Dunfermline mum has praised the Press for helping spark an ‘influx’ of volunteers to sew comfort pillows for breast cancer sufferers.

Sandra Penman (43), of Keirsbeath Court featured in the Press in May appealing for people to lend her a hand in creating the free pillows which go under the arms of a breast cancer patient – allowing them to rest comfortably with no interference from stitches, pockets of pain or chemotherapy treatment.

What started as a solo project now has more than 50 volunteers supplying to ward six in Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital, Dunfermline’s Queen Margaret Hospital and Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

Sandra said, “We have had a huge influx of volunteers. The article in the Press had a very positive response and we are now supplying to Raigmore Hospital.

“We are sending the pillows all over Scotland and they have even gone to the Outer Hebrides to Benbecula after a lady who saw the article about the pillows and wanted one for her cousin who lived there.

“We have hit over the 2000 mark of pillows in 16 months which is amazing, however, at the same time awful to know that so many people are suffering from breast cancer in Scotland, and more. Our aim is to cover all the hospitals in Scotland and supply sufferers with the heart-shaped pillows.

“The volunteers are of all ages and we are always looking for more help.” Once finished, the pillows are packed and stored to keep them clean and sterile, tied up with ribbons and then given to the hospital’s nurses to be put on patients’ beds ready for their arrival.

Sandra was inspired to bring the Heidi’s Heart Pillow Project, founded by breast cancer sufferer Heidi Kilgariff in Berkshire, to Edinburgh and Fife in memory of her late mum, who died of cervical cancer when she was 43, and her godmother, who survived breast cancer for 18 years.

Speaking to the Press in May, Sandra said the pillows were a way of giving breast cancer patients some comfort, allowing them to relax and lie in a position, with the help of the pillow, that will ease the pain.

Sandra continued, “It is just amazing the support we have had. It just takes one contact in the hospitals to start the supply process off.

“Local business have been supporting us also with donations to buy fabric and stuffing, which is great. “I hope to start supplying Aberdeen and Glasgow to help the sufferers in those areas.”