How knitting groups helped Leann through a medical crisis

By MARCUS STEAD - reporter

Marcus Stead 01/08/2023

2 minutes read

| Leann Harrington in her mobile wool van.

A CANCER survivor from Sully who attended knit and natter groups to help her through months of gruelling treatment has turned entrepreneur by setting up a business selling wool from a mobile van.

Over the last few years, Leann Harrington has suffered from serious health problems, including cervical cancer which required a radical hysterectomy, the installation of a stoma, the removal of her large intestine due to the effects of ulcerative colitis, a parastomal hernia and the removal of her small intestine.

During those challenging times, Leann took comfort from attending knit and natter groups. When Covid lockdown restrictions first eased, she began going to her mother’s group in Cardiff but as time went on she also went to similar groups in the Vale.

**| Knit and natter groups helped Leann and to set up Wool on Wheels.** *Photo: Adobe.*

Leann says being part of those groups helped her through her difficult treatment: “The operations and other things I’ve been through have been complex, but going through all these procedures also had an impact on my mental health.

“I was suffering from anxiety, and going to knit and natter groups helped me to relax, have a few laughs and talk about other things. I can’t begin to describe how much better it made me feel,” she said.

Leann is now doing quite well, although she still suffers with some anxiety issues, and she keeps in regular contact with the friends she made through the groups.

In recent months, her friends complained of being unable to find the materials they wanted from local shops, which became a big problem following the demise of Shaws the Drapers after 106 years last December, and Leann spotted an opportunity: “The old-fashioned high street drapers have gradually been disappearing for years, but the loss of Shaws late last year had a big impact on people who love knitting.

“People shop online more these days but my friends were saying they couldn’t find a lot of the things they wanted on the internet.

“With the help of my partner Gary, we got hold of a van and started Wool on Wheels. My first regular stop was a community hub in the Llanedeyrn area of Cardiff, but I now go to places in Sully and Llantwit Major as well,” she said.

Knitting has helped Leann through several difficult years, and she is keen to use her new business to support others: “The knit and natter groups really helped me through those challenging times, and I’d recommend it to anyone who is going through a similar experience, because that support network meant a huge amount to me.

“But even if you don’t have any major health problems, knit and natter groups are good fun and it’s a great way of making new friends,” she said.

To find out when Leann and her van will be in your area and to contact her, please visit the Wool on Wheels Facebook page here.

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