Local girl scout working on her Girl Scout Gold Award project

Victoria Heyvaert, a senior at Guthrie High School, has recently received approval for her proposed Girl Scout Gold Award project.  The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award that can be earned as a Girl Scout. 

To earn the Gold Award, each girl must identify an issue, investigate it thoroughly, build a team, create and present a plan, and act, educate and inspire others while making the project sustainable.  The Gold Award dates back to 1916 when Girl Scouts began a long tradition of recognizing the extraordinary efforts of extraordinary girls. 

The goal of the Gold Award is to set a foundation for active citizenship throughout a woman’s life by creating a self-sustaining solution for a societal grand change and is the culmination of her Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Heyvaert is partnering with Breast Cancer Survivors of Oklahoma, a non-profit organization, to provide Crocheted Cleavage, a set of crocheted breast prostheses that are comfortable, light weight, and soft alternatives to typical breast prosthesis. 

These are for women who have undergone mastectomies or lumpectomies and will be provided to them for free.  They can be worn with any regular bra and are machine washable.  They are overstuffed with Polyfil to allow for adjustment, and they can be customized by removing or adding some stuffing to each women’s liking. 

Heyvaert chose this project upon learning how typical breast prosethesis are often heavy, uncomfortable and costly.  Through her research and in speaking with breast cancer survivors, she learned about crocheted options and wanted to do something to ensure that women had access to this option and further that they wouldn’t have to pay for them.  She is working with one of her Troop Leaders to learn to crochet them herself but has also sought assistance from her church’s crochet group to assist with the project. 

If you are interested in helping with Heyvaert’s project or would like to make a donation of materials or money to purchase materials, please contact her at [email protected] or visit her Facebook group at: www.facebook.com/groups/CrochetingforComfort.