Awareness Quilts
Spreading the Word

Quilters are a caring group who generously share their art. Making and donating awareness quilts are one special way quilters share their craft. In addition to building awareness and/or raising funds for research for cures, many of the quilts are donated to people afflicted with the diseases. In addition to making people aware of the impact of the diseases and work toward cures, awareness quilts raise hopes and warm the hearts of the recipients.

AIDS quilt

The AIDS Memorial Quilt is made up of more than 44,000 individual 3-by-6-foot memorial panels made by family members and friends in memory of a loved one who has died of AIDS. The AIDS Quilt, probably the most well-known of all awareness quilts, at 1,293,300 square feet (as of Jan 2010), is the largest signature quilt in the world.

©Courtesy of schacon

Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that hinders and then eventually destroys the communication between nerves and voluntary muscles in the limbs, torso, and face, rendering them useless. It does not affect the involuntary muscles such as the heart, lungs and those in the digestive system. People suffering from ALS experience progressive paralysis throughout the body, with more than half of those afflicted dying within 3 years of diagnosis.

To increase awareness about ALS, raise funds for The ALS Association’s global research program through an online raffle and auction of the quilts, and “warm the hearts and laps of ALS patients," Kathy Thompson, the owner of Quilters Dream Batting, launched the “Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS."

Individual quilters as well as groups of quilters had until July 30, 2010 to submit their quilts. To reassure people with ALS that they are not forgotten, and that there are people out there thinking of them, quilters were also encouraged to attach a note of introduction and well wishes with the quilt. Some of the quilts will be sold in an online raffle and auction; some quilts that are not offered online will be distributed by The ALS Association to people with ALS and their families; and others will be featured in a traveling tour.

Big Mama's Legacy donated a warm, cozy flannel quilt

Parkinson's Disease Foundation Quilt Project

In December, 2009, the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) announced the launch of the Parkinsons Disease Foundation Quilt Project - the first global quilt project to raise awareness of the impact that the disease has on the millions of people worldwide living with Parkinson's - along with their families, caregivers and friends - and the continued urgency to find a cure.

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