Victory quilts help children with chronic medical conditions

Master quilter Jackie Erickson of Sisters created 36 unique "victory" quilts as a fundraiser for Victory Junction, a camp that enriches the lives of kids with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. The camp is sprawled across 84 acres of lush rolling hills in Randleman, North Carolina.

Once the children pass through the gates, the boundaries and limitations they live with daily disappear, and they can concentrate on having fun.

Erickson began making her quilts for campers when Victoria Junction was being built in 2001.

"After the camp opened in 2004 and volunteers began making the campers' quilts I stopped for a while because both my kids were in school and I was on the committee for Starry Nights," Erickson told The Nugget. "But I enjoyed doing it and started again this year as a fundraiser for the camp."

Victory Junction was built by the former third-generation NASCAR driver and NBC sports racing analyst Kyle Petty and his family in honor of Petty's late son Adam, who died tragically on the racetrack in 2000.

Erickson and her family, including her son Ethan, have been NASCAR enthusiasts for years. The Erickson family met Kyle Petty twice at the NASCAR races.

"Back in the late '90s Ethan was really into Kyle Petty as a driver because Kyle would drive a giant life-size version of a Hot Wheel's car that Ethan loved," she said. "We went to Sears Point racetrack in Northern California every year. When Adam died, it was sad for everyone."

Petty built a camp in honor of Adam. His son visited Camp Boggy Creek, a fun year-round camp for seriously ill children in Florida with his dad, and loved it.

Erickson watched the NASCAR races every weekend, heard about the camp they were creating and decided to lend a hand.

"They needed quilts for their campers," Erickson said. "They provided each camper with a quilt and a Teddy bear as they arrived. The quilts that I made are a usable size about 40 inches and up to 60 inches long. The bright fabrics that I use comes from my stash, plus I get donations from other quilters. I put those scraps together to make the full-size batting that I need for the inside of the quilts. I use up everything, and what I don't use I donate to Habitat in Sisters. The batting is the piece in the middle that gives the quilt its fullness."

Erickson always made 36 quilts a year because in NASCAR they have 36 races a year.

"I would make a quilt per race. Another reason I started again this year is because Kyle Petty's Charity Ride Across America will be in Portland on May 13, and I'm going to bring a couple of the quilts with me to show him. We've seen the start of the rides a few times, but having it begin in Oregon is great."

The bulk of the donations from the Ride Across America go directly to Victory Junction Camp.

The 23rd anniversary Ride Across America, led by former NASCAR diver Kyle Petty, will leave Portland and travel across the Pacific Northwest and will arrive in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 19, covering eight states in seven days. He leads 200 bikers on the weeklong route to raise funds and awareness for Victory Junction.

Petty's main way of raising money on the charity ride is through spectators contributing to the ride's "Small Change Big Impact."

Erickson liked the idea. During the last two weekends, her "victory" quilts were hung at Stitchin' Post, where she put out a donation jar.

"People donated their pocket change and we raised around $700!" said Erickson.

"It's a win-win situation because I'm donating the cash and the quilts. We sold nine quilts so the kids will still get 27 quilts to go on their beds."

Erickson is a longtime quilter and will be teaching at quilters affair again this year during Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show week.

To find out more about Victory Junction Camp go to www.victoryjunction.org and www.kylepettycharityride.com.