OUTsurance staff have taken up the cause of restoring dignity to women who have battled breast cancer and lost a breast to the disease by knitting knockers.
Centurion, South Africa – Each month, OUTsurance invites a staff member to select a cause close to their heart. The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so a staff member put forward the Knitted Knockers.
Knitted Knockers are knitted or crocheted prosthetics made to comfortably fit in place of where a woman has had a mastectomy or double mastectomy. Often a woman is unable to wear the silicone kind for some time after the surgery, so the woollen prosthetics make for a good alternative.
The concept was started a few years back in the USA when Barbara Demorest consulted her doctor after her mastectomy surgery. She was unable to have reconstructive surgery, and it was too soon after the op to start wearing a silicone prosthesis. So the doctor gave her a knitting pattern.
Knitted Knockers are softer and lighter than any other prosthesis, much more comfortable to wear and can be placed in any regular bra. The knitted fabric breathes and prevents the heat rash and discomfort experienced by many women wearing the silicone ones.
The group of volunteers at “Staff Helping SA OUT” were taught how to make the prosthetic and will now sit with family and friends to prepare them for the women of South Africa. Each month, OUTsurance welcomes staff to put forward a cause they believe in. The knitted knockers event was put forward by Esther Hammond.
If you would like to get involved too, you can contact Dana who runs Knitted Knockers South Africa on knittednockerssa@gmail.com or phone her on (083) 268 5856.