St Margaret’s Hospice Care (St Margaret’s) is inviting families and friends across Somerset to remember their loved ones at a special event on Sunday 24 September.
Back by popular demand and now celebrating its 3rd year, St Margaret’s Sunflower Stroll event offers walkers a peaceful walk in the picturesque surroundings of Longrun Meadow in Taunton before returning to the hospice in Bishop’s Hull.
Tickets start from £5, you will receive a sunflower dedication marker to place in our hospice garden and a dedication bib to add to your t-shirt. There is an option to upgrade your ticket to enjoy a prosecco or cream tea in the hospice meadow after your walk too!
As a thank you if you kindly fundraise or donate over £50 to St Margaret’s you will be receive a sunflower badge to proudly wear. Money raised at this year’s Sunflower Stroll in Taunton will help fund the hospice’s Sunflower Centre Day Hospice, enabling the team to continue supporting local people across Somerset and surrounding areas.
The Sunflower Centre Day Hospice provides specialist support and advice to patients with life-limiting illnesses who are well enough to live at home but need access to the support St Margaret’s can offer. It also allows patients to meet others in similar situations and take part in activities to help increase their confidence and independence and reach their goals.
One patient who knows only too well how much of a difference this service can make is Louise Comely. Louise was referred to St Margaret’s last year after being diagnosed with cancer for the second time.
The Sunflower Centre team helped Louise to create individual, hand-painted memory boxes for her to leave for her family after her death to help them to remember the good times they spent together and offer them some comfort. Louise said crafting the boxes gave her a focus and a purpose and it made her happy to create a legacy for her children.
“The staff and volunteers in the Sunflower Centre are like a ray of light, they brighten up my Monday mornings,” Louise said. “I love to make artwork so creating memory boxes has been really therapeutic for me. Each one takes on its own shape as you do it and they are all different. I’m planning to fill each one with photos, trinkets and personal letters and cards. It’s difficult to put on paper how much someone means to you but it’s so important. I don’t know what I’d do without St Margaret’s. I’d just be stuck at home on my own. They are such a big support to me.”
Teresa Connah, Lead Nurse at the Sunflower Centre Day Hospice in Taunton, added: “The Sunflower Centre team made a huge difference to Louise. She was very emotional when she started her memory box project, but it gave her back a focus and purpose back with time, guidance, and support of a volunteer on a one-to-one basis. We empower patients to take back control of their illness, to regain their loss of confidence and enable them to feel that they are supported throughout the rest of their journey. It is a pleasure to provide this support to Louise as well as hundreds of patients across Somerset.”
By taking part in the Sunflower Stroll and raising just £50 could support more patients like Louise to spend a day in our Sunflower Centre Day Hospice – the money you give makes a big difference.
For more information about the Sunflower Stroll and to book your place visit www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/sunflower-stroll-2023