A Rossland resident gifts artwork to benefit the Teck Acute Care Centre.
Giving back was easy for Karen Thatcher as a paramedic, but that was more than two decades ago. After a head-on collision left her with a serious head injury, the Rossland resident needed to find a new purpose.
She found quilting not only helped her heal, it also had the potential to inspire others to do the same. Her husband, Tim Thatcher, a fire captain with more than 40 years at Trail Operations, has helped her stay focused along the way.
“As part of my rehab I had to set goals and follow through, and I still do. It helps me continue to feel successful,” Karen explains.
Quilting has helped her regain hand-eye coordination, balance and focus, and today, Karen is an award-winning quilter who donates her pieces to various organizations, most recently gifting her large silk ’B.C. Fishing’ creation to the new Teck Acute Care Centre, which will open at BC Children’s Hospital this October.
Karen’s quilt will be displayed on the third floor, home to procedure suites and the renal dialysis unit, as a part of the Children’s Healing Experience Project, which aims to make the new eight-storey centre a calming space for families and children undergoing treatment.
Circle of Giving
In addition to her donation to the Teck Acute Care Centre, Karen has a long tradition of supporting BC Children’s Hospital through her quilting, previously also gifting a child-friendly quilt series, featuring a super hero theme.
Now, Karen has set her sights on supporting Mining for Miracles, the B.C. mining industry’s charity of choice in support of BC Children’s Hospital, by donating a quilt to the 2018 Mining for Miracles Silent Auction.
To create her quilts, Karen often relies on donations of silk ties, recycling the material. If you have a new or used silk tie you would like to donate for her next project, please send it to the attention of Catherine Adair, Community Relations Leader at Trail Operations or Shane Dekker, Executive Assistant, Corporate Affairs, Vancouver office.
