“It was 12 years ago now, when I heard the words that no woman wants to hear: that I had breast cancer…”

From a casual knitter to the founder of a global organization, Barb Demorest's story is one of passion, purpose, and service.

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Our speaker this week is Barb Demorest, and three simple words from a caring surgeon changed her life. Out of the adversity of breast cancer, an organization was birthed that has impacted hundreds of thousands of women who have had a mastectomy and helped thousands of others find passion and purpose in their lives. Hear the personal story from the founder of Knitted Knockers Support Foundation, aka knittedknockers.org, of how the organization has grown to provide over 10,000 free breast prostheses per month, provide support to over 1,970 medical offices and have a presence in 61 countries.

Barb is the founder of Knitted Knockers Support Foundation. She describes herself as a wife, mother, grandmother, and casual knitter residing in Bellingham, Washington. She retired from her 30-year career as a CPA and owner of a tax practice in order to pursue her passion of connecting volunteer knitters and crocheters with breast cancer survivors to provide free knitted knockers to those who can use them.

After hearing the awful words, "you have cancer," and struggling with the impact of having a mastectomy, a simple gift of comfort and dignity knit by a caring friend changed her life. Her purpose and passion is now to inspire and equip the wonderful and caring fiber arts community to provide these gifts of love to their fellow women in their own communities.

Like a Rotarian who has discovered the joy of active service, she says, "I no longer get paid in dollars for my work, but the rewards are priceless.

Podcast Producer: Elton Sherwin

#PositiveChange #Inspiration #Rotary