The Sunflower Memories appeal returns to Pilgrims Hospices gardens in Canterbury, Thanet, and Ashford on Saturday, 20 July, 2024.

For over 10 years, the hospice gardens have welcomed members of the local community to come together and celebrate their most treasured memories of loved ones in the sunshine. The cherished appeal has been beloved by longstanding, and new supporters alike, raising over £400,000 since its inception.

Everyone is welcome to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a special person, in exchange for a donation to ensure that Pilgrims Hospices can continue to deliver outstanding end-of-life care to the local community. The sunflowers represent a heartfelt tribute to those who are no longer with us but whose memories continue to shine brightly. The dedicated sunflowers form a striking display and decorate the gardens, ready to welcome supporters into the hospice grounds for the Sunflower Days: garden tea parties with live music and light refreshments, offering time, space, and comfort to reflect on the lives of those remembered.

Once again, Sunflower Memories is delighted to welcome Pilgrims’ Wellbeing team to the Sunflower Days. As the hands and minds behind the Time to Create sessions, offered as part of the Wellbeing programme, they know how important expressing creativity can be for the body and mind. Attendees will have the chance to discover their inner artist at an arts and crafts station, available for all ages and abilities to enjoy.

Ellie Cane, Individual Giving Manager, said, “Sunflower Memories has continued to grow from strength to strength and provides the perfect opportunity for our supporters to remember their loved ones in the beauty of the hospice gardens, all while supporting local families who need end-of-life care, both inside and outside the hospice walls. It continues to be a special event in the Pilgrims calendar as families come together and share the day with those who may be going through similar experiences. We are very excited that our community has the opportunity to be united in their creativity as they gain first-hand experience of the kind of support we offer to patients and their loved ones through a Time to Create taster session.”

Pilgrims’ Supporter Relations team will write the names of those to be remembered onto vibrant sunflower markers, which will join the beautiful display in the hospice gardens. Supporters are welcome to collect their sunflowers to keep at home as a treasured keepsake from the day or allow them to remain in the gardens where they will shine brightly until 9 August. Afterward, the memory markers can be collected from the hospice reception.

The Sunflower Days will be taking place in the hospice gardens of Canterbury, Thanet, and Ashford on Saturday, 20 July, between 1 pm and 4 pm. Pilgrims staff and volunteers will be ready and waiting to welcome visitors, help them find their dedicated sunflower, and share in their treasured memories in the sunshine.

To find out more, visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers, email [email protected], or call the friendly Supporter Relations team on 01227 782 062.

Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured.  The charity supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.