They start with an 18” square of plain gauze, fold over 1” on all four sides, then fold bottom to top, fold in half again, then again eventually ending up with a 4X4 gauze dressing.
Members of Quesnel’s Eastern Star chapter have been making these simple, but essential cancer dressings for the past 50 years.
They gather two days a week and each person who comes makes 24 dressings.
When the chapter has about 15 bundles (360 dressings) they send them to Prince George where the dressings are sterilized and distributed to cancer patients.
Moira Clayton, 84, joined the Quesnel Eastern Star chapter about 25 years ago and has been making dressings as part of her service commitment to the order as has Kathyrn Maxwell, also 84.
Maxwell is a 50-year member, first in Montana and more recently (1992) in Quesnel.
Lorraine Cyr, who opened her home as one of the dressing stations, has been a member for more than 40 years.
Local chapter members, in addition to making cancer dressings and other commitments, are busy raising funds to help bring the Shriners Drum and Bugle Band, the Kamloops Keystone Kops and the Shriner bus all of which are participating in Quesnel’s Billy Barker Days parade and park activities.
Watch for various fundraisers to aid in this project.
