Inspiring 71yo Grandmum Sews Masks By Hand Daily Despite Suffering From Breast Cancer

Face masks are quickly becoming part and parcel of our daily lives, now that Covid-19 continues to remain a constant threat within society. However, they aren’t always easy to come across, especially when so many places are in short supply of them. In which case, what one 71-year-old grandmum in Singapore is doing may just prove to be as incredible as it is inspiring, despite the circumstances she has to endure.

Amy Lee, who is a mother to three children and grandmother to six grandchildren, started sewing face masks for the underprivileged and vulnerable communities in Singapore when she was introduced to the non-profit organisation Masks Sewn With Love. The non-profit, which according to Straits Times, consists of over 1,000 volunteers that are led by team lead Kitson Leonard Lee.

With the help of their volunteers, Mdm Amy Lee being one of them, over 50,000 cloth masks have already been made by the organisation according to The New Paper, with another 40,000 more planned to be ready by June.

Mdm Lee, who has suffered from a previous battle with breast cancer, only recently discovered that her condition had relapsed. Despite that, she continues to offer her aid to the organisation, saying how it was a welcomed distraction from her chemotherapy sessions and the occasional body ache.

To date, Mdm Lee has already sewn over 300 masks by hand!

For Mdm Lee, the organisation’s Facebook group helped her cope with this period of loneliness after Singapore’s Circuit Breaker was officially enforced, as her family couldn’t come visit her like they used to.

“I had posted about my condition on the Facebook group, and many well-meaning messages poured into my inbox,” she said.

Sharing a three-bedroom HDB flat with her husband, who is a retired maintenance worker, the organisation’s 4,700 strong group keeps her company daily. Once completed, the masks will be sent to the organisation, where they will be distributed to cleaners, the elderly, as well as children and young people living in Singapore’s shelters.

To Mdm Lee, we would like to salute you for your continued efforts to help provide masks for the underprivileged in society, and wish you nothing but the best for your health! 

Also read: Kind M’sian Housewife Stitches 200 Masks To Distribute For Free To Thank Community For Helping Her