OVER the past seven years, Jane Brook resident Heather Jackson has knitted more than 5000 beanies for children in need.
Her beanies are included in shoeboxes packed with toys and clothes and sent overseas by charity Samaritan’s Purse.
Heather, 74, uses multi-coloured balls of wool for her creations, with no two alike.
“So far this year I have knitted about 80,” she said. “I knit them on a circular needle and usually have about four on the go at once.”
Heather was thrilled when a relative showed her a video of children in Africa wearing her beanies and saying “thank you, thank you” to the camera.
“I had never really thought about the impact on a child of receiving a beanie and I was crying when I saw that,” she said.
Six months ago Heather was involved in a car accident in the car park of her local shopping centre, breaking her wrist and collarbone.
“I thought that would put a stop to my knitting but the doctor said it would be good for my wrist and it is healing well.
“I have also found it keeps my arthritis at bay.”
