600 Patchwork Bags Sold within 10 Days

For the first time, Taiwan Foundation for Rare Disorders (TFRD) worked with momo e-commerce, Fubon Financial, and Fubon Charity Foundation, launching charity sales online to promote patchwork bags, made by both rare disease patients and their mothers. It took only ten days that all 600 patchwork bags were sold out, and the total amount was up to NT$300,000. In addition to receiving positive feedback from the population, the charity sale also gave the “rare craftsmen” the sense of achievement, and provided them with chances to be seen. 

This time, the hand-made patchworks were produced by four rare craftsmen who come from different families. SYUAN-SYUAN suffers from Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD). She has muscle weakness, and thus she cannot raise her limbs. While SYUAN-SYUAN could finish only three crafts per day, she still persisted in sharpening her skills and creating new works. With neighbors’ advices and hard self-learning, SIAO-AN’s mother, who is the family of an Angelman syndrome patient, sells her handicrafts at the market occasionally to earn some money. May’s mother is the family of an Achondroplasia patient. For many years, she has been making a living by doing needlework. Her considerate children would make use of their winter vacation to help their mother with cutting clothes and packing the final works. SIAO-AN’s mother, who is the family of a Noonann syndrome patient, takes the load of supporting her family. She produces different kinds of handicrafts and seeks a balance between working and taking care of her child. 

After the charity sale was put online on March 1st, many people went on the Internet and placed an order. The rare craftsmen said with pride and happiness, “There is somehow a feeling of being touched after we reach the milestones together within a few months.” It shows that the charity sale not only raises funds in a traditional way, but advocates the spirit of the saying- “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Translator: Rily Tang (EB), Reviewer: Albert Kuo