Sit and Knit

Marian Randall and Lorna Delancy hold a Prayer Shawl, made as part of the Common Threads: Healing Hands and Hearts project that was started more than 12 years ago at Washington Cancer Institute. Completed shawls are blessed, packaged and given to new patients. The Prayer Shawls are not about a specific religious tradition, but are lovingly handmade to embrace, inspire, and celebrate life with patients.

Chris Vinh, one of the quilters and Kathy Srsic- Stoehr, Senior Director of Nursing at WHC admire the quilts.

Shawls knitted by the Washington Cancer Institute's Prayer Shawl Ministry to cancer survivors and donated to cancer survivors at WCI.

Washington Cancer Institute has a Prayer Shawl Ministry. It is a non-faith based ministry. The goal is to embrace, inspire and celebrate life with newly diagnosed cancer patients.

Each shawl is blessed before it is given to a Cancer Institute patient. The positive expressions of caring, support and hope are passed from person to person. Both the giver and the receiver benefit from the experience.

How to be involved

As part of the ministry, “Sit and Knit” sessions are held on a monthly basis. Anyone who enjoys knitting is welcomed. You do not have to know how to knit to participate. Experienced knitters are available to help those who would like to start a shawl. Supplies and patterns are available for those who do not have their own yarn and needles to get started.

If you are a newly diagnosed patient at Washington Cancer Institute and would like to receive a shawl, contact Lorna DeLancy, at 202-877-3915.

Contact us or to donate

For more information, or to donate a shawl or money, please contact Lorna DeLancy, at 202-877-3915.

About Lorna E. DeLancy, MA

Lorna E. DeLancy is the Community Outreach Coordinator at the Cancer Institute. She has worked at MedStar Washington Hospital Center for 42 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in organizational behavior, and her master’s degree in service administration with a focus in health care.