Join Sunflower Memories
St Elizabeth Hospice has launched its annual summer remembrance event, Sunflower Memories, where supporters can celebrate the lives of their loves ones and reflect on their special memories, whilst raising vital funds for the local charity.
Sunflower Memories, sponsored by Gladwells Pet and Country Store, is returning this summer for its fourth consecutive year, with the special remembrance event taking place on Sunday 11 August in the hospice garden.
The event unveils the sunflower emblems dedicated to people no longer with us, all displayed in the garden in bright sunny yellow wheelbarrows, and gives supporters the opportunity to view them for the first time whilst remembering and celebrating their loved ones.
The sunflowers will then be on display in the hospice garden until 1 September, and then will be able to be collected from the hospice reception from 3 September for loved ones to keep.
Rachel Slattery, individual giving fundraiser at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “Over the years, many people have formed a special bond with the hospice through the care we have given to their loved ones and it’s lovely to be able to gather together in the garden and remember those special people no longer with us.
“Sunflower Memories gives us the chance to meet and thank many of our supporters who continue to donate to the hospice, enabling us to offer our services free of charge to local people who need our care.”
Virtual sunflowers are also dedicated online, which can be viewed by friends and family who may live far away or be unable to visit the hospice. To dedicate a sunflower in memory of a loved one, the person does not need to have received hospice care, and there is no obligation to attend the preview event.
This year, the event is sponsored by Gladwells Pet and Country Store and Rebecca Randall, Marketing Assistant on behalf of Gladwells Pet & Country Store said: “St Elizabeth Hospice is an important, local charity that supports people at their most vulnerable. To support a charity that helps so many people is something we are fortunate to do as an independent business.
“Each quarter we try to support one charity with a range of fundraising ideas and this is voted for by the staff. St Elizabeth Hospice was very popular with the H.G.Gladwell & Sons Ltd company and we hope to raise as much as we can for the charity whilst supporting their Sunflower Memories event.”
Gladwells Pet and Country Store is also selling limited edition black sunflower seeds in their shops, with £1 from each pack sold being donated to the hospice.
The hospice’s Sunflower Memories event has grown in popularity over the years, therefore tickets will be issued and numbers are limited. Those wishing to attend the preview event will need to request a ticket when they dedicate a sunflower at sunflowermemories.stelizabethhospice.org.uk