Pam can’t stop knitting Easter chicks

Pamela Bentley, from Redvales, Bury, admits to being addicted to knitting after picking up her needles three years ago.

A friend told her about the Francis House Easter Knitted Chick Appeal after finding the hospice’s knitting pattern.

Former mental health support worker, Pamela, recalled seeing a television programme many years ago about inspirational charity fundraiser Kirsty Howard, who was raising millions of pounds for the Didsbury hospice she attended for respite care until her death in 2015.

“I remember hearing about the Rainbow room at Francis House where families are given time to say their goodbyes after the death of their child, and I thought what an incredible place.

“I’d never knitted before, but after my own mother’s death three years ago, I just had to start knitting for such a worthwhile cause and I’ve been doing it ever since.

Knitting everyday

First Pamela knitted 250, then last year 800, and, for this years’ appeal, she has produced a whopping 1,100 chicks complete with ribbons and tiny bonnets.

“I only do it for Francis House and have to knit at least four chicks a day.”

Pamela can produce 17 chicks from a 100g ball of wool and has used 300 metres of ribbon to complete her woolly creations.

The chicks will join tens of thousands of others knitted by kind-hearted crafters from across the region, UK and globe to be filled with a donated Creme Egg and sold throughout Greater Manchester to raise much needed funds.

Francis House provides care and support to hundreds of children and young adults with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions including families from Bury, Bolton and north Manchester. Sibling support, homecare and emotional support are among the services offered by the charity that needs to raise £12,900 every day.

Anyone wishing to sell chicks and can collect them from the hospice can call 0161 443 2200.