Most raffles have items like cars, bikes and trips on offer, but the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre and the Bermuda Quilter's Guild have teamed up to offer the breast cancer Quilt of Hope.

Bermuda Quilter's Guild President Dorothy Slatter said she was pleased to partner with the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre. It has donated the Quilt of Hope to raise funds for breast cancer awareness.

"The quilt was originally designed in Maryland and completed in Bermuda," said Ms Slatter.

"This one of a kind, handmade quilt can be yours if you purchase a raffle ticket. All proceeds will aid breast cancer awareness on the Island and the one in nine women that will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime."

When explaining the idea behind the quilt, she added: "This quilt is one of many pink quilts assembled by quilt guilds across North America in 2008.

"Thousands of quilters across North America came together in support of raising money and awareness by creating unique 'pink' quilts in the aid to eradicate breast cancer, one stitch at a time. "The final event was a charity auction of hundreds of quilts to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure to end breast cancer."

The story came to Bermuda from Maryland when Jennifer Mayer, the owner of the Thrifty Needle Quilt store, came to the Island. At that time she brought an unfinished quilt and members of the Bermuda Quilter's Guild completed the quilt.

"The intention was that the quilt be auctioned or raffled off with proceeds to benefit a local cancer project," explained Ms Slatter. "The finished product is a 63 inches by 72 inches, is 100 percent cotton and is a pink and white reversible quilt.

"One side features hundreds of the pink breast cancer ribbons and the other side a pink and white rail fence pattern."

Deborah Titterton Narraway, press relations, fund-raising and marketing coordinator for the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, explained it was with great pleasure that the organisation had accepted the Quilt of Hope. "The quilt is beautiful and certainly honours those with cancer," she said. "It is only fitting that everyone be given a chance to own this piece of craftsmanship."

The quilt is being raffled from now until March 14. Raffles are being sold one ticket for $5 or three tickets for $10. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, 46 Point Finger Road, Paget, or Curves Gym, on Gorham Road.

The winning ticket will be drawn at the Community Cancer Forum, which is being held at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute on March 14 between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. For more information visit www.chc.bm or visit Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.