I’m a sucker for a good cause so when the press release for the Innocent Big Knit dropped into my inbox I knew I had to spread the word. Whilst I am not a knitter myself I have roped the granny into knitting a hat or two! So no excuses people, get yourselves or your grannies on the job!
“The innocent Big Knit in aid of Age Action is back with a bang and needs the public to knit 80,000 knitted hats. innocent and Age Action want the nation to stitch together and start knitting from now until the end of November. The people of Ireland are being urged to knit a little hat to reach the target and help raise essential funds for Age Action Ireland. The woolly hats will sit on bottles of innocent smoothies and sold in shops nationwide. For every woolly hat wearing smoothie sold, innocent will give 25 cent to Age Action Ireland to help keep older people warm during winter.
Since 2008, the innocent Big Knit and the generous Irish have helped raise over €60,000 for Age Action and knitted over 180,000 little woolly beauties with designs ranging from a classic bobble hat to Jedward hats and Santa hats. This year innocent urges everyone to cast on and help knit 80,000 little woolly hats to raise €20,000 and much needed awareness for Age Action.”
Eamon Timmins of Age Action said “We have up to 2,000 excess winter deaths in Ireland each year. They do not die from hyperthermia, but from cardiovascular and respiratory illness – cold-related conditions. They die because they cannot afford to heat their homes to a safe level. The money raised from the innocent big knit will help address this crisis by enabling our volunteers visit more older people in their homes to carry out some DIY jobs and ensure they are well. It will also help fund our annual winter warmth public education campaign which informs people how they can stay well, warm and healthy at home.”
Ali Gibbons of innocent drinks said “Working on the Big Knit to support Age Action is the most exciting time of the year for innocent, it is great fun to knit a little woolly hat for such a worthy cause. We urge people to grab some wool, needles, a friend and go bananas knitting. We want the nation knitting for warmth.”
