A local group is looking to bring comfort to cancer patients.

Victoria's Quilts is a national initiative with the Okotoks chapter forming back in 2003 and includes members from Nanton and High River. The group of 72 women gathers twice a month at Rumpled Quilt Skins to make quilts for cancer patients.

Debra Graham, treasurer for Victoria's Quilts Okotoks, says it's great to know they're helping to brighten someone's day.

"It's rewarding to deliver a quilt to a patient and know you brought a little joy," she says. "You know they will be kept warm and have something to cuddle in to while they're receiving their treatment or when they're at home resting."

The group makes approximately 320 quilts a year, each taking about 16 hours to complete.

Graham says they accept financial and fabric donations, but there's a catch when donating fabric.

"The fabric needs to be 100% cotton because if a person is going for radiation the quilt could melt because radioactive rays will singe polyester so our backings, tops, and batting are 100% cotton, or it's bamboo."

Fabric donations can be dropped off at Rumpled Quilt Skins and financial donations, which help pay for shipping quilts and purchasing materials, can be made to the group's post office box at Victoria's Quilts, P.O. Box 40025, Okotoks, AB, T1S 2G2.

To register a patient for a quilt, email okotoks@victoriasquiltscanada.com and provide the name, address, phone number, and email of both people who are requesting and receiving the quilt.

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