Eliza has chemotherapy canister solution all sewn up

But her Swim and Survival Academy colleague Eliza de Kort had the solution all sewn up.

Ms de Kort, 19, started hand making fashionable little handbags to unobtrusively carry the canisters instead, eventually enlisting the crafty aid of the centre’s water aerobics ladies to help her out.

Ms de Kort has now started up The Hailey Project, concentrating on products to make time spent in hospital easier. 

She is also looking at making backpacks, belts and tool belts to cater for all genders and age groups.

“The Hailey Project is a collective of seamstresses who produce beautiful hand made bags to carry chemotherapy canisters in,” Ms de Kort said.

“Each bag is individually hand made with love by the lovely ladies who support the project.

“The Hailey Project has made a huge difference to the lives of chemotherapy patients who have their treatments administered by canisters.

“All the money raised from the bags is being donated back to the patients via charities such as the Cancer Council, ensuring that we are doing the most that we can for the patients in their time of need,” Ms de Kort said.

Ms Eeles said the bags made an “immense” difference to her 10 months of chemotherapy treatment, which allowed a large bowel tumour to be shrunk so it could be removed via surgery.

“I said to (academy owner) Julie (de Kort) that I really needed a bag or something to hold the canister in and she said Eliza had some backpacks at home,” Ms Eeles said.

“But then she started making the bags herself.”

With the help of her grandmother Coral, Eliza made the bags and also kits for other people to sew together, with Grada Richards, Fran Molloy, Joan Neil, Pam Clark, Bernadette Tacey and Carol Atkinson all helping out.

All money raised goes to the Cancer Council and Relay for Life.

There is also a “pay it forward” system for people to buy a bag for someone yet to undergo treatment.

Ms de Kort is developing a Facebook page which will have an online payment system included.

However, she can be messaged on the Facebook page, facebook.com/TheHaileyProject/ or emailed at thehaileyproject1@gmail.com if anyone wants more information or to order a bag.