A High Peak man and his family are giving their backing to the Sunflower Memories appeal being hosted by Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen's Trust this June.
All the money raised during the month-long commemorations will go towards providing free palliative and end of life care to local patients.
Steven Searle has seen first-hand how valuable the services are and will be remembering his beloved grandma, Heather Buxton, who died in February.
With the support of Blythe House’s 24/7 Hospice at Home service, Heather, who had kidney failure and cancer, was able to leave hospital and spend her final days in the comfort of her own home in Chinley, with her family beside her.
Steven said: “It was so important for my Grandma to be at home. After spending nine weeks in hospital, during the coronavirus pandemic, she was sometimes very emotional and distressed.
“It meant everything to be able to get Grandma home and to have the care in place from Blythe House, because that is where she wanted to be.
“It meant everything to me and my family to have her safe at home; nobody wants to think about their loved one dying in an isolated environment on their own."
Steven (left) with brother Shaun and mum Sue at his grandma's bedside
Steven added: “As a family, without Blythe House, we wouldn’t have coped. We were a family in need, and although the whole situation was traumatic, to see Grandma so poorly, it was made one hundred times better by the Hospice at Home service and its amazing HCAs.
“I am dedicating a sunflower this June in memory of my Grandma, and to support Blythe House to raise as much income as possible for this vital service.”
For a suggested minimum donation of £10, residents across the High Peak can dedicate a sunflower in the virtual hospice garden in memory of a loved one.
They also receive their very own sunflower plaque bearing their relative or friend’s name, to plant in their garden at home.
To find out more about donating in memory of someone you love, and to visit the virtual sunflower garden, visit: www.blythehousehospice.org.uk/sunflower-memories
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