BEAVERCREEK, Ohio — An Ohio woman who started a “gang” says they’ve now helped thousands of cancer patients. 

What You Need To Know

  • The “Gang of Seamstresses” started as an idea to help a friend fighting cancer

  • Volunteer seamstresses are making t-shirts with a zipper opening to make it easier for hospital treatments

  • So far, the group has made more than 8,000 shirts for area hospitals

Patricia Cochran knows a thing or two about sewing, but what she didn’t know is that is what would get her into the gang. 

“We just decided that was the perfect name for us,” said Cochran.

She says it all started when her childhood friend was diagnosed with cancer and was going through chemotherapy. 

“I was looking for things to do for him that would cheer him up," said Cochran, “and I made him three shirts, they were fun shirts, they had funny things on the front."

The shirts have special openings that cancer patients can unzip for treatment.

She says once people in the hospital saw it, the idea took off.

"I’d make a couple dozen, send them up, make another couple dozen, send them up,” said Cochran. 

Soon, she was asking her friends in Beavercreek, like Cindy Mittag, to help make the shirts.

“I didn’t like it at all, I didn’t think it was fun. I thought it was very difficult, and then I got hooked, and now I sew every day,” said Mittag. 

There are now seven volunteers that make up their self-proclaimed “Gang of Seamstresses.”

“Everybody who is in this gang, they’re very generous souls, and very giving people,” said Cochran.

Together, they’ve made more than 8,000 shirts and are planning to add on more seamstresses to help more cancer patients.

Her friend didn’t survive, but Cochran says, at least for a little bit, they could help make life a little easier for someone else.

“That makes you feel like you’re doing a good thing, makes you wanna continue on," said Cochran.