Beginning in the month of October, the members of the Sewrority Sisters quilters conducted a challenge to make attractive quilts that will be given to breast cancer patients at Lexington Medical Center.

The Breast Cancer Challenge quilts, when completed, were hung at Creative Sewing Machine Center in West Columbia’s Triangle City, where the Sewrority Sisters meet every Monday. Those who viewed the quilts voted and picked their favorite. A quilt (at the right) made by JoAnn Lotan and quilted by Rachel Branum (Sewrority Sisters president) was judged the favorite.

“The purpose of the challenge was not only to provide comfort quilts to breast cancer patients but to also raise awareness and encourage women to get their annual mammograms,” Branum said. “Several of the members of Sewrority Sisters are breast cancer survivors so this cause really hits home.

In the three-plus years the group has been in existence, Sewority Sisters have donated close to 1,500 quilts to Lexington Medical Center cancer patients. Sewority Sisters have also donated blankets, hats, and pillows to cancer patients, many of them going to breast cancer patients.