Sunflowers Galore Raise Funds For Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

Published on: 19 Aug, 2020
Updated on: 23 Aug, 2020

People in Stoughton have again been enjoying the sunflowers they have grown this summer while raising money for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

On a wet Wednesday, August 19, some of the local residents who have grown sunflowers this summer gathered in Sheepfold Road as a cheque for £1,265 for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices was presented to its community fundraiser Ellie Constable (pictured front right).

Last year, residents in Sheepfold Road grew sunflowers for the charity that supports children with life-limited conditions and their families, and this year they have been joined by those in neighbouring Shepherds Lane and Byrefield Road.

On Wednesday (August 19), Shooting Star’s community fundraiser Ellie Constable dropped by to receive a cheque for £1,265 from the residents and to thank them for growing so many sunflowers.

She said: “I smiled as I drove up Sheepfold Road seeing all the sunflowers in people’s front gardens.”

And in a thank you card, Ellie wrote: “I really do think it’s such a lovely way to not only raise money, but also to create a real sense of community spirit with your neighbours, which is so important, now more than ever.

“It’s been a very tough few months for us at Shooting Star, and it’s only thanks to people like you that we are able to continue providing vital care to the children and families who so desperately need us.”

Shooting Star’s community fundraiser Ellie Constable admires these girls’ sunflowers.

Earlier this year residents who wished to participate were given either seeds to plant themselves or seedlings to grow on. Every household in Sheepfold Road took part (about 90 homes) along with a good number in both Byrefield Road and Shepherds Lane. In return, they were encouraged to make a donation to Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, through the on-line JustGiving page, Shooting Star Sunflowers Page.

One of the organisers of the scheme, Sara Quinn, said: “Seeds were sown at the end of March and seedlings given out at the beginning of May. People have grown the sunflowers in their front and back gardens. The organiser for Byrefield Road was Linda Fry, while Sue and Lionel Medley supervised the scheme for Shepherds Lane.”

With three roads taking part this year, there are plans to do the same in 2021, hoping even more families will join in.

And.. three photos taken earlier this summer when the sunflowers were at their best…