December 28, 1998

More than 700 handmade hats, turbans and scarves currently decorating trees around the women's cancer areas at the MGH are helping fight the battle against breast cancer. Recently Fabric Place held a benefit in which its local stores donated fabric and materials for customers to make hats. For each item made, it gave $5 to the Friends Fighting Breast Cancer, an all-volunteer organization that raises money for breast cancer research at the MGH.

The hats, turbans and scarves – now on display in the Cancer Resource Center, Ellison 14, the Infusion Unit and Radiation Oncology – will be donated to MGH chemotherapy and radiation patients.

Admiring the hat tree are from left: Diane Issacson, of Fabric Place; Janet Connolly O'Neill and Fran Gilardi, co-chairs of the Friends Fighting Breast Cancer; and Debbie Essig, MSW, LICSW, co-director of the Cancer Resource Room, MGH Cancer Center.