Decorated with various shades of pink, representing hope and awareness for breast cancer, Janice Dias from Plymouth said she's dedicating her quilt in honor of her family and friends who supported her when she battled the disease.
Dias' "Pink for Life" quilt, which she handmade herself, is up for auction at the 2008 Sutter Breast Cancer Quilt Auction through November at the Sutter Cancer Center in Sacramento. Money received from the auction will help others who are facing the same diagnosis. A live auction, featuring Dias' quilt and the hundreds of others up for auction, will begin at 10 a.m., Nov. 1 at the Sutter Cancer Center. An online auction, at www.smcfoundation.cmarket.com, will run through Dec. 1.
Dias said she's especially happy to be a part of a cause affiliated with Sutter Cancer Center in Sacramento where her mother, Rosemary Sims, received treatment for a rare blood disorder called polycythemia vera.
"We were very impressed with Sutter Cancer Center," Dias said. "It's frightening being referred there, but the setting is designed to be a warm, comfortable environment with caring nurses and lots of distractions like puzzles and books. They obviously choose the best people to help their patients heal."
Dias began her own battle when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2006. She underwent two surgeries - a lumpectomy followed by a mastectomy, when doctors feared that the cancer may have spread throughout her breast. The surgeries were followed with four and a half months of chemotherapy. In October 2005, she underwent her routine annual mammogram; in later December of that year, she found a lump during a self-exam.
"I believe strongly in the importance of mammograms as well as self-examinations," Dias said. "Both are critical for detecting breast cancer early and thereby improving the survival rate."
The 54-year-old grandmother said she's thrilled to be able to combine her love of quilting with her passion to help others affected by breast cancer.
"I enjoy everything about quilting. ... The beautiful fabric, being creative, and the joy of giving and (working with) the people who share my passion," said Dias, who has been quilting for five years. She also helped make a part of a quilt that the American Sewing Guild of El Dorado and Amador Counties has donated to the auction.
The Sutter Cancer Center, located at 2800 L St. in Sacramento, is open daily. People may visit the quilt display anytime this month; there will be a bid sheet for each item on display so that individuals may bid during their visit.
Every three years since 1999, California quilters have generously created beautiful quilts for the auction. The past three auctions have raised more than $300,000 for Sutter Cancer Center programs. About 1,400 quilts were donated to those auctions.
For more information about the auction, visit www.suttermedicalcenter.org/quiltauction.
