Warrior Quilt Dedicated to Magee

10/5/2009

Filed under Magee-Womens Hospital

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Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC graciously received the Ford "Warriors in Pink" quilt on Oct. 5, 2009. The quilt honors women and the Magee-Womens Breast Cancer Program of UPMC Cancer Centers for strength and commitment to fighting the disease.

Every square of the hand-stitched quilt represents a story. Sewn together, they create a symbol of courage as a unified effort to beat breast cancer. Muriel Petschke pieced the quilt together. Four additional hand-made "Warriors in Pink" Quilts were presented to local women selected in a random drawing. Women from the Martha Washington Quilters Guild pieced the additional four quilts together. Sherry Germusa and Kara Nickholds accepted their quilts and shared how breast cancer has impacted their lives. The other two winners, Christine Davis and Lynn Schwartzmiller, weren't present, but were also winners of quilts.

About 1,000 people created personalized patches at this year's Pittsburgh Race for the Cure to recognize all of the warriors who stand up to breast cancer. The Neighborhood Ford Store sponsored the "Patchwork Station" and had the patches sewn together to create the Ford "Warriors in Pink" Quilts.

Magee's own Dr. Rachel Jankowitz was the mediator for the Oct. 5 presentation. Debra Lanzarotta, race coordinator from Pittsburgh Affiliate Susan G. Komen for the Cure, said a few words thanking those who dedicated the time to sew the quilts together. Kathy Wagler, Neighborhood Ford Store board member and owner of Crivelli Ford in Aliquippa, Pa, spoke about how Ford wants the quilt to live on as a permanent fixture of hope at Magee. Both women are breast cancer survivors.

The quilt will be showcased in the hallway where numerous women will pass on their way to breast cancer treatment. Magee hopes the quilt reassures those women undergoing treatment that they are not alone.

To learn more about the research being conducted at MWRI, visit What We Do.

To support the research being conducted at MWRI, visit How To Help.