The famous Knutty Knitters, who created a media storm with their life-sized knitted nativity scene, are touring Bristol once again this year to raise money for St Peter’s Hospice and will be visiting Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre from four days from Thursday 10th December.
The group of six women from Bristol, dubbed ‘The Knutty Knitters’, who hit the headlines after creating their special ‘Knitivity’ scene, will be visiting a series of shops, schools, churches and public areas across the city to raise money and awareness in memory of their dear friend who was cared for by the charity.
Since launching the Knitivity, the ladies have added a new camel, donkey and an angel to complete the scene, which has raised in excess of £80,000 for Bristol’s only adult hospice and has appeared on BBC’s The One Show and in Hello Magazine.
The tour, which kicked off at the St Peter’s Hospice Christmas Market in Bristol on Saturday 28th November, will also be stopping off at Tesco Eastville, Asda Patchway and The Mall at Cribbs Causeway.
Knutty Knitter Alison Spurrell said:
“We’re so excited to be taking our Knitivity out on the road again this year. We’ve had such fun meeting people, spreading awareness for the hospice and also spreading a little Christmas cheer.”
“It is just astonishing how much has been raised by our project, especially as the Knitivity has been featured on a special St Peter’s Hospice Christmas card, which has been their best ever seller!”
“St Peter’s Hospice cared so wonderfully for our friend Christine at the end of her life. Although the tour is great fun for us, we want to raise as much as possible for this amazing charity.”
The knitters, made up of Alison, Jean Richards, Anne Iles, Eileen Agnew, Pat Dardis and Julia Worth, all worked together at St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School in Monks Park and started knitting together in their spare time.
When founding member of the Knutty Knitters, Christine, died of bowel cancer at St Peter’s Hospice in December 2011, the group decided to raise money in her memory.
St Peter’s Hospice community fundraiser Petra Littlefair said:
“The Knutty Knitters have been fantastic fundraisers for us so to welcome them back for a tour this year is very exciting. They have a really unique fundraising idea and are a perfect example of using a hobby to support a good cause.”
“The feedback we’ve had about the knitivity has been great so I’m sure people will be excited to see it while out doing their Christmas shopping again this festive season. We’re really encouraging people to get into the Christmas spirit and support the ladies.”
As Bristol’s only adult hospice, St Peter’s Hospice cares for more than 2,670 patients each year as well as supporting family members.
All services are provided free of charge but this care costs around £18,630 a day. For around £14,000 of that, the hospice relies on gifts in wills, kind donations and funds generated by the hospice shops.
For a full list of tour dates visit www.stpetershospice.org or the Knitivity on Tour page on Facebook.
