Back in August 2020, Knitted Knockers France put together 21 wonderful volunteer women from 10 different regions in France, who have been knitting, crocheting and helping in all possible ways to get to those Amazones who need us. I have felt lucky to have an active and sensitive group of women who are always ready not only to knit but to help in any way possible. I’ve never thought a man could possibly join us although I have read how much husbands of fighter women support them to go through their battle like my own hubby has done. Well about a month ago, Jayne Mannion our colleague from Charentes in France forwarded me an email from Thomas who was requesting to join our KKF team. I have to be honest I was very surprised and I must say than when I called Thomas to interview him before having him to join our group my surprise and admiration was even greater.
Thomas is French/German. He learnt how to knit when he was 12 years old at the school he was attending in Germany where all skills were to be learnt by boys and girls without any difference. When he sent me some pics about his knitting I just went WOW!!!! he does delicate and detailed knitting hardly made even by experienced knitter women. Not only he is a great knitter but a lovely man with a huge heart. After 25 years as Marketing Director for international festivals and theaters he had enough of show time and became a Shiatsu therapist. He helps people fighting against cancer alleviate the side effects of their treatments, so as soon as he heard about us he didn’t hesitate to join us. He has been fighting himself against an illness for 30 years so he knows how much people, no matter if they’re men or women, need support and comfort when going through fighting for life. When I asked Thomas why he wanted to join us, his answer was simple: ” being a man does not put you aside when talking about breast cancer. We owe our existence to mothers, we have sisters, cousins, wives and friends so we can not just ignore it. All the way around, I call men to join KK because only by knitting and receiving a big smile from an Amazone warrior you will feel like a hero”
Thomas who speaks four languages also helped us to translate the Bottom Up version into French making it easier for those who would like to join us to begin knitting in an easy way, men or women. He added a message to future knitter men: “don’t be shy, how many women have joined “men’s jobs”?! it’s time for us to join their world and show women we might also be capable to do what they do”.
As KKF leader I’m very proud to have Thomas in our team!
Mila