GROUP DONATES HAND-STITCHED QUILT AND HELPS FIGHT DIABETES

What began as a simple opportunity for a group of friends to get together and participate in a shared hobby soon turned into a labor of love.

The Bayou Pierre Quilters group of Carlisle began meeting weekly seven years ago. Millions of stitches and thousands of hours later, the group has meticulously created one queen-sized quilt each year and then donated the fruits of their hard work to a Mississippi charity.

"It's an opportunity for fun and fellowship, while doing something worthwhile at the same time!" said group member Jeanie Byrnes. "There's no better cause than the fight against diabetes!"

Every dollar raised from the quilt raffle will benefit the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi and help provide life-saving medical supplies to Mississippians with no insurance and send children with diabetes to camp.

The raffle tickets are $2 each or $10 for a book of five for the colorful machine pieced, hand-appliquéd and hand-quilted 92 inch by 92-inch, queen-sized quilt. The drawing will be held July 31, and the winner does not have to be present to win.

Group members include Byrnes, Linda Chapman, Mary Hudson, Maxine Nations, Peggy King Segrest and Sonya Byrnes.

"This quilt is an amazing piece of art, and it was created by an amazing group of women who have selflessly donated hours of their free time to make a beautiful quilt for the cause of fighting and defeating diabetes in Mississippians," said Diabetes Foundation Executive Vice President Mary Fortune. ‘We are so grateful for groups like the Bayou Pierre Quilters group, and we encourage everyone to participate in this giveaway– what a fabulous way to support the Diabetes Foundation and win a gorgeous quilt at the same time!"

The quilt received the Ruth Newlin-Mary Ann Norton Award for the best traditional quilt in the Mississippi Cultural Crossroads Pieces and Strings Quilt Show, a show that celebrates the African-American and European-American quilting traditions. As the recipient of this prestigious award, the quilt being raffled for the Diabetes Foundation is now on display at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson.

The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi is the state's only nonprofit health organization that provides diabetes research, information, patient services and advocacy, and its mission is to provide hope through research, programs and service to the 346,500 Mississippians with diabetes. Every dollar raised by the Foundation stays in the state to support these efforts. In addition, 92 cents of every dollar raised goes towards the organization's charitable purposes. The Diabetes Foundation is the one diabetes organization totally dedicated to all Mississippians– from children to seniors– who live with diabetes.

To purchase raffle tickets for the beautiful quilt and fight diabetes, please email BayouPierreQuilts@yahoo.com or call 601-421-5599. Make checks payable to "Bayou Pierre Quilters" and mail them to Post Office Box 766, Port Gibson, Miss. 39150.