Jenny Lou Lusk (from left), Terri Massey's aunt Dana Treadway, Massey's stepmother and Kay Bess attach the pink scarf to the stadium fence.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- When their 39-year-old friend Terri Massey lost her four-year battle with breast cancer last October, Cindy Whitlock and Kay Bess, of Fayette County, sought a unique way to memorialize her. They appealed to supporters of Terri's Tribute, a scholarship fund for Massey's three children and for other children who have lost their mothers to breast cancer.
The group of mostly women wanted a tangible way to remember their friend. Something they could put their figurative heart in and literal hands on. Something that would make a big splash.
"As women, we can't just stand by and watch," said Whitlock. "We have to do something to help Terri rest in peace."
Perhaps inspiration came from an earlier project Whitlock, marketing director at Tamarack, remembered making for Teresa Pauley, a Tamarack artist who had cancer. Textile artist Elaine Bliss and Whitlock created a lap quilt made from fabric cutouts of hands from people close to Pauley. Bliss stitched the fabric hands together into a quilt for Pauley. When she died, the cherished quilt was folded and placed in her casket.
They settled on the concept of a giant, hand-knit pink scarf to wrap around the press box of Oak Hill High School June 19 for the annual Fayette County Relay for Life. Bess, a gifted handcrafter, made a knitting pattern and the duo spread the word.
"The scarf idea came from the belief that many loving hands could create a symbol you can touch, hold and see," Whitlock said. "I also thought displaying it at the relay might breathe new life into that event."
The women e-mailed everyone they knew and put their idea on Facebook and other social networks.
"It went viral," Whitlock said. "We wanted to create awareness with the scarf being a common thread. We wanted something you could put your hands on and touch."
As news of the project spread, pink scarves began pouring into Bess' office at the Southern West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Oak Hill library, churches and the Fayette County National Bank, where the scholarship fund is coordinated. Team Terri members gathered on their lunch hours and in the evenings to knit the scarves.
By mid-May, more than 60 knitters from 12 states contributed to the 914-foot-long scarf. At the length of three football fields, it was much too long to drape the press box.
Each scarf segment arrived with the names of the knitter, the woman for whom it was knitted and her story. Bess laminated the cards, e-mailed messages and newspaper clippings and started a blog about the effort to display at the relay. Central Printing, a local business, donated two huge posters printed with the names of knitters.
The stories so moved Bess that she frequently shared them with Whitlock and the other women. They were particularly touched by Rainelle resident Cyndi Burdette's story. Burdette started knitting a pink baby quilt when she was pregnant 14 years ago. When she found out her baby was a boy, she stored the unfinished blanket. She eventually had four children, but never finished the blanket.
At about the same time Burdette saw the flier about Terri's Tribute and the giant pink ribbon/scarf project, she was diagnosed with breast cancer herself. Burdette is 41 years old. She remembered the pink blanket and said she decided it was never meant to be a baby blanket, but instead a piece to be added to the pink ribbon in honor of Massey.
As they brainstormed about how to display the scarf after if outgrew the press box, Whitlock and Bess asked representatives from AEP, the National Guard, fire departments and local contractors for their suggestions. They considered draping the scarf from extended hooks and ladders, cherry pickers and other tall pieces of equipment on the stadium field. Eventually they decided to drape the scarf on the fence around the football field's track.
When they halted scarf production just before the June 19 race, more than 100 knitters from 12 states had contributed. The stadium's fence was festooned with the 1,700-foot-long scarf in every shade of pink.
"I've never experienced anything so moving, with the exception of childbirth and Terri's funeral, as I felt when I drove onto the property and saw the ribbon displayed," Whitlock said in an e-mail. "So much love. I feel blessed to be a part of Team Terri, and still feel like she's pushing me for more."
The pink scarves continue to come in and will be added as the world-record scarf travels to other breast cancer awareness or fundraising events. The huge scarf comes apart in six segments for storage in the home of Massey's relatives. Each of the six rolls resembles a large pink truck tire.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- When their 39-year-old friend Terri Massey lost her four-year battle with breast cancer last October, Cindy Whitlock and Kay Bess, of Fayette County, sought a unique way to memorialize her. They appealed to supporters of Terri's Tribute, a scholarship fund for Massey's three children and for other children who have lost their mothers to breast cancer.
The group of mostly women wanted a tangible way to remember their friend. Something they could put their figurative heart in and literal hands on. Something that would make a big splash.
"As women, we can't just stand by and watch," said Whitlock. "We have to do something to help Terri rest in peace."
Perhaps inspiration came from an earlier project Whitlock, marketing director at Tamarack, remembered making for Teresa Pauley, a Tamarack artist who had cancer. Textile artist Elaine Bliss and Whitlock created a lap quilt made from fabric cutouts of hands from people close to Pauley. Bliss stitched the fabric hands together into a quilt for Pauley. When she died, the cherished quilt was folded and placed in her casket.
They settled on the concept of a giant, hand-knit pink scarf to wrap around the press box of Oak Hill High School June 19 for the annual Fayette County Relay for Life. Bess, a gifted handcrafter, made a knitting pattern and the duo spread the word.
"The scarf idea came from the belief that many loving hands could create a symbol you can touch, hold and see," Whitlock said. "I also thought displaying it at the relay might breathe new life into that event."
The women e-mailed everyone they knew and put their idea on Facebook and other social networks.
"It went viral," Whitlock said. "We wanted to create awareness with the scarf being a common thread. We wanted something you could put your hands on and touch."
As news of the project spread, pink scarves began pouring into Bess' office at the Southern West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Oak Hill library, churches and the Fayette County National Bank, where the scholarship fund is coordinated. Team Terri members gathered on their lunch hours and in the evenings to knit the scarves.
By mid-May, more than 60 knitters from 12 states contributed to the 914-foot-long scarf. At the length of three football fields, it was much too long to drape the press box.
Each scarf segment arrived with the names of the knitter, the woman for whom it was knitted and her story. Bess laminated the cards, e-mailed messages and newspaper clippings and started a blog about the effort to display at the relay. Central Printing, a local business, donated two huge posters printed with the names of knitters.
The stories so moved Bess that she frequently shared them with Whitlock and the other women. They were particularly touched by Rainelle resident Cyndi Burdette's story. Burdette started knitting a pink baby quilt when she was pregnant 14 years ago. When she found out her baby was a boy, she stored the unfinished blanket. She eventually had four children, but never finished the blanket.
At about the same time Burdette saw the flier about Terri's Tribute and the giant pink ribbon/scarf project, she was diagnosed with breast cancer herself. Burdette is 41 years old. She remembered the pink blanket and said she decided it was never meant to be a baby blanket, but instead a piece to be added to the pink ribbon in honor of Massey.
As they brainstormed about how to display the scarf after if outgrew the press box, Whitlock and Bess asked representatives from AEP, the National Guard, fire departments and local contractors for their suggestions. They considered draping the scarf from extended hooks and ladders, cherry pickers and other tall pieces of equipment on the stadium field. Eventually they decided to drape the scarf on the fence around the football field's track.
When they halted scarf production just before the June 19 race, more than 100 knitters from 12 states had contributed. The stadium's fence was festooned with the 1,700-foot-long scarf in every shade of pink.
"I've never experienced anything so moving, with the exception of childbirth and Terri's funeral, as I felt when I drove onto the property and saw the ribbon displayed," Whitlock said in an e-mail. "So much love. I feel blessed to be a part of Team Terri, and still feel like she's pushing me for more."
The pink scarves continue to come in and will be added as the world-record scarf travels to other breast cancer awareness or fundraising events. The huge scarf comes apart in six segments for storage in the home of Massey's relatives. Each of the six rolls resembles a large pink truck tire.
The scarf will be on display in the quilt building at the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair July 1-3 at Cedar Lakes, where organizers will set up needles, yarn and rocking chairs for people to sit during the fair and add to the ribbon. They will also collect tributes.
Scarf instructions
Use 100 percent acrylic yarn in any shade of pink.
To knit:
Size 13 needles
Cast on 25 stitches
Knit every row until the end of the skein.
Bind off all stitches and knot the end.
To crochet:
Size G hook
25 loops
Single crochet one row.
Double crochet the rest.
MAIL PIECES TO: Kay Bess, Rural Route 2, Box 327E, Fayetteville, WV 25840
QUESTIONS: E-mail terristrib...@yahoo.com or call 304-640-2295
ONLINE: www.visitwv.com/vacation/the-pink-scarf/
Reach Julie Robinson at jul...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1230.
