shoreupdate.com

By Avra Sullivan

Meet “Chatty Cathy,” one of the “Angels” that volunteers with Cancer Comfort Angels, an organization that makes and distributes “comfort kits” which include handmade fleece blankets, a small cross pin, and poems and words of encouragement, to people suffering with cancer. Connie Beasley, as she’s known to most, has been volunteering with the group for the past two years. She handles promotional items (hence her nickname from fellow angels) and is a current board member. She became involved with Cancer Comfort Angels when her daughter’s cheerleading squad started a walk for Breast Cancer Research to benefit family friend Laurie Rasinski, who was, and is, battling breast cancer. A blanket given to Laurie gave her the inspiration to develop Cancer Comfort Angels to use blankets to help encourage those with the disease and to continue the walk, as well as a dinner and auction to raise funds for cancer research. They also help to raise money for college scholarships for students who have been affected by cancer.

Connie says the impact she has seen through the blankets has been amazing. “It’s hard to put into words the feeling you get when you hand or mail someone a blanket, especially when that person is sitting in the hospital hooked to an IV.” She adds that “you realize that the little things do matter. Nice matters, kindness matters, compassion matters, and faith matters!” A Chester resident, Connie says that even though the area is small, “when we come together as one, we sure do great things!” She feels it is important to be involved in volunteer work as it “helps bring family, friends and the community together.”

Cancer Comfort Angels will be hosting their annual walk, dinner and auction on October 21st 2012. You can find more information on their website at www.cancercomfortangels.org.