We Support Beads of Courage!
Our guild was approached by The Chinook Woodturners Guild in Lethbridge Alberta, to see if we would help to contribute lidded vessels in support of the Canadian Beads of Courage programme. This was discussed at our January 2016 meeting and the idea of helping these young people in their time of need struck a chord with our members. For the next 4 months we struggled with the turning procedures and getting things right. During the summer months the fruition of our work started to appear at the Show and Tell table until we had 29 vessels to send out west at the October meeting. 3 other vessels had also been mailed out in September. Fortunately Maxwell Paper in Belleville has committed to shipping these items to Calgary for distribution across Canada to children who are on the programme We had a lot of fun making every kind of vessel we could imagine. Check out our gallery to see what varied creations our members made. This was one of our most successful group projects and we are enjoying helping these little ones. We are committed to making quarterly shipments and heartily encourage other guilds to participate in this important programme. Any individuals are encouraged to contact us and donate their vessels as well.
Beads of Courage Mission
Caring for children coping with serious illness, their families and clinicians by helping them to RECORD, TELL and OWN their story of COURAGE through beads.
Values
Advance the science of caring; Set and exceed the standards for the psychosocial care of children coping with serious illness; Be a source of support and encouragement-connecting the kindness of others with the Courage of the children we support!
History
Jean Baruch, developed the first Beads of Courage, Inc. program while working on her PhD in Nursing at the University of Arizona, College of Nursing. Her inspiration came from her clinical practice and from her experiences as a camp nurse at one of Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camps. With the financial support of her family and friends, Jean developed and piloted the Beads of Courage Program at Phoenix Children's Hospital in February 2004.
Today, Beads of Courage, Inc. is providing the Beads of Courage® program in over 140 children’s hospitals throughout the United States, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Canada. The Beads of Courage® Program has become the standard of care for supporting children and their families during their treatment for cancer and other serious illness. With the encouragement of families, supporters, bead artist community and others, Beads of Courage CANADA was incorporated in 2011 and launched its first program in January 2012. Beads of Courage CANADA was launched with the support and leadership of Executive Director, Victoria Plouffe and the Board of Directors.