Quilts Honor Montana Breast and
Cervical Health Program
Two colorful handmade quilts made in honor of the Montana Breast and Cervical Health Program (MBCHP) will be on display in February as part of the Montana Historical Society’s “Traditions in Color and Comfort” quilt exhibit, showcasing quilts made by Montana women of diverse and regional backgrounds.
The two quilts are part of the approximately 100 currently on display. “The MBCHP quilts were made by women whose lives have been touched in some way by breast cancer,” said Diane Arave, MBCHP health education specialist for the Department of Public Health and Human Services.
One quilt, by the Montana American Indian Women’s Health Coalition, represents the tribes in Montana.
The second quilt, called the ‘Awareness,’ was made by MBCHP site coordinators representing all 13 sites in Montana. “Women from each of the sites made a square for the quilt and there’s a story behind each one,” Arave said. “The Awareness quilt offers encouragement to women to take the next step and actually get screened for breast and cervical cancer.”
According to Tom Cook of the Montana Historical Society, the quilt show honors the idea that quilts are a special tool in the home to not only comfort people, but also to reflect the important heritage of Montana. "We're very pleased to be able to exhibit these two quilts that make people aware of a critical health need in Montana," Cook said.
In addition, the Native American Pink Shawl dancers will be performing at the Historical Society museum lobby on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at noon. The Pink Shawl society uses the shawls as a tool to remind women of the importance of yearly cancer screenings.
The Montana Breast and Cervical Health Program provides for free or low-cost breast cancer screening for women ages 40-64 and cervical cancer screening for women ages 30-64. Participants must be uninsured or underinsured, meet income eligibility requirements.
The museum is located at 225 North Roberts Street in Helena, Mont.
For more information call MBCHP toll-free at 1-888-803-9343 or call Arave at 444-0927 or visit www.cancer.mt.gov.
Page last updated: 02/06/2009
