Age Action needs 80,000 little hats knitted between now and September and is calling on the people of Mayo to “Cast on in their county colours”. According to a spokesperson for the charity it only takes 20 minutes to knit a little hat (less if you can already knit! ) and Age Action is keen to see which county is passionate enough to knit the most hats in its county colours.
Commenting on the ‘Innocent Big Knit’ campaign, which is to provide mini-hats to fit on fruit bottle tops, Eamon Timmins of the Age Action charity said: “We know Mayo GAA supporters are a passionate bunch of people and we’d love if they would show their grá for their home county by knitting a little hat for us. We will be keeping tabs on which county knits the most hats per head of population and will announce the most ‘patriotic’ county after our closing date on September 3.”
The money raised from the big knit will go towards the charity’s annual winter warmth public education campaign which informs people how they can stay well, warm and healthy in their homes. Medical research has found that when household temperatures fall below 16 degrees Celsius there is an increased risk of respiratory problems amongst the elderly. When it drops below 12 degrees, the blood thickens and there is an increased risk of stroke or heart attack. Up to 2,000 cold-related Winter deaths occur in Ireland each year, added Mr Timmins.
The hats are to be modelled by 80,000 little bottles of Innocent fruit smoothies and sold in shops nationwide from mid September to early October. For every woolly-hat-wearing smoothie sold, Innocent will give 25 cents to Age Action. The goal is to raise €20,000 in total.
Hats should be sent to: the innocent Big Knit, Fruit Towers, 120 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2 before Friday September 3. For more information, knitting instructions and variety of knitting patterns visit www.innocentdrinks.ie/thebigknit
