Breast cancer survivor wants to help others enjoy their lives

Joyce Marsh is looking for some help from knitters and crocheters in Lake County willing to band together for the sake of knockers: Knitted Knockers.

Marsh needs crafters to create women’s breast prosthesis’ that are light, comfortable and affordable.

Marsh, a breast-cancer survivor, embraces each day of life as a gift despite the months-long experience she endured during her chemotherapy and a double mastectomy.

Marsh said her life is wonderful, and she wants to share one of the solutions she’s found to a common double-mastectomy-related problem: Heavy, uncomfortable and expensive breast prosthetics.

Marsh found her solution with Knitted Knockers, a grass-roots volunteer organization that creates all sizes of prosthetic breasts. 

When a person is in need of prosthetics, organizers distribute them for free – one, or two at a time.

Marsh said that only if the recipient feels led, they can donate $10 to the group to help offset postage and materials costs. 

Knitted Knockers, which is based on the west coast of Washington state, was thrilled to hear from Marsh. Though Marsh does not possess the skill to knit, she said she can organize a local arm of the charity and reach out to those who can add their support and donate their skills.

Just weeks into her efforts, Marsh enlisted the oncology department of St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Polson to be a Knitted Knockers distribution point. In addition, knitting enthusiasts and leaders at All in Stitches in Polson are busy learning the pattern so they can in-turn teach a how-to class later this summer.

Volunteers of the Knit Witz, a Big Arm crafting group, are hard at work now making knockers that can be given to breast cancer prosthetic wearers.

Each Wednesday morning the group of ladies gather in the community room above the Big Arm Fire Department to work on their craft.

But crafters do not need to be part of an organized group to take part in the charity. Individuals can participate. 

Patterns for crochet and knit are online as well as recommendations for the right yarn.

For the alternative prosthetics, crafters need to use a yarn that is soft. All in Stitches recommends a Cascade brand yarn, Cherub Aran, it sells in its downtown Polson store.

Marsh is now hard at work starting a Montana chapter of the charity and wants to encourage crafters from all over northwest Montana to take part in equipping local organizations with the prosthetic alternative.

Marsh wants to talk to knitters and crocheters interested in donating their time and skill, and said that the product of their work can be shared with local ladies who either cannot afford breast prosthetics or who find their prosthetics’ weight and comfort unbearable.

She is looking for appropriate yarn donations as well as financial gifts that individuals might feel led to give in order to cover basic operating costs.

Marsh said she has a message for mastectomy recipients too. 

It doesn’t matter how long ago you had it, or if you just stopped wearing them, if you want them now, they are yours, she said.

The mission of Knitted Knockers is to connect volunteer knitters and crocheters with breast cancer survivors to provide free knitted knockers, Barb Demorest, founder of Knitted Knockers said on her website.

The group’s website has free patterns and videos on how to make the prosthetics.  Patterns were downloaded more than 100,000 times to date, and more than 95,000 viewers watched the video, the site said.

In the United States, there are 110 registered groups in 47 states and nine additional countries. The group sends out more than 100 each week for free to women around the world.

Organizers ask volunteers, or those who want to share the word, to contact Marsh temporarily until she is able to secure the right person to take the lead in her new organization.  

Marsh can be contacted at 406-887-2276.