By Mal Butler
The Duchess of York took time to write to members of Freshwater Bay Women’s Institute (FBWI) a personal note of thanks after receiving a surprise gift from them.
The group sent her an anti-ouch pouch, an underarm cushion, designed especially for mastectomy patients after surgery. She was touched by their kindness and the efforts they had made to help strangers at a time of such trauma.
FBWI President, Wendy Owens, said: “We were amazed to get such a lovely card from the Duchess. We just thought sending her a cushion, and a drainage bag, was a kind thing to do.
“She has encouraged all women to go for routine mammograms, and we back this message. Go for your check-ups; it may save your life – it saved mine.”
Many members of FBWI are involved in producing the cushions, which, along with drainage bags and twiddle-muffs (for dementia sufferers), are regularly sent to St Mary’s Hospital.
The initiative was started by Sandra Thearle and Peri Ryan, and the teams, including Pat Kendrick, Sue Morris, Dot Ellis and Janet Fair, have made hundreds of cushions over the last five years.
Isle of Wight Observer