By Sue Crawford

Published at 11:25, Monday, 24 December 2012

A GIFT from home will soon be winging its way to Cumbrian soldiers stationed out in Afghanistan.

Gift: Eden Valley Hospice Day Care patient Elizabeth Shedden and volunteer Jean Pharaoh

Elizabeth Shedden, a day care patient at the Eden Valley Hospice in Carlisle, has been working with hospice volunteer Jean Pharoah delicately creating two rag rugs.

One of the rugs, which has taken just over a week to produce, is now ready to make the 3,552-mile journey to Afghanistan.

The burgundy rug, which is detailed with a golden cross, has been chosen to go out to Afghanistan while the blue rug, which also features a gold cross, will be displayed in the chapel at the hospice for patients, families and friends to enjoy. Both were made during activity sessions at the Durdar Road unit.

Elizabeth said: “I would not have been able to create the two rag rugs without the assistance of Shirley and Jean, who prepared the hessian base and cut out over 2,000 pieces of material for the rug.”

Earlier this year a selection of rag rugs made by the patients at Eden Valley Hospice Day Care went on public display at Tullie House Museum in Carlisle.

Shirley Douglas, hospice day care activities co-ordinator, said patients were given the opportunity to create a variety of homemade products, including rag rugs, candles and cards.

To find out more about the day care service go to www.evhospice.org.uk/Day-Care.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk