A local hospice charity is inviting people to remember loved ones who are no longer here, by taking part in a special summer fundraising campaign. 

Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust is hosting its annual Sunflower Memories month throughout June, where people can dedicate a flower in memory of someone special, and donate to support local hospice care.

For a suggested minimum donation of £10, a sunflower plaque will be dedicated to a loved one in the hospice garden, and donors will be warmly invited to attend a special sunflowers coffee morning at the hospice from 10am to midday on Friday 30 June. 

All the money raised during the month-long commemorations will go towards providing free palliative and end of life care to local patients.

Martin Atkinson from Taddington is planting a sunflower in memory of his beloved wife, Diana, who sadly died in October 2022 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma, a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumour only three months prior.

Diana, whose long and successful career before retirement had been as a speech and language therapist at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, started to contract severe and very painful headaches. 

Diana 

Diana and Martin visited their holiday home in France in summer 2022, but Diana’s headaches worsened, and the couple made the decision to return home, where she started to receive support from Blythe House and Helen’s Trust.

Martin explained: "Someone from the hospice called us to chat through what we’d like. Diana was still quite mobile at this point; she was having difficulty, but she was still able to wash and shower with support. Personal care was suggested and so healthcare assistants (HCAs) from Blythe House’s Hospice at Home team came to support Diana for an hour every day. Just for that one hour, I could have a break from caring. It was my time to relax, go out for a walk or to visit a friend in the village for a coffee.

"What impressed me from the very beginning was the professionalism of hospice staff. They cared for Diana but they were also conscious of everything with me. The level of professionalism and coordination was amazing. The healthcare assistants were very, very aware when something needed escalating, and of situations that required other professional input. They worked closely with other external providers too including district nurses; it was seamless and worked without any hitches.

"Diana was referred to the physiotherapy and occupational therapy team at the hospice, Angela and Miriam. They were so good at spotting things a mile off; they were extremely good at helping me to help Diana in the best way that I could. They taught me how to utilise equipment properly, including lessons on transferring Diana to the commode to make life easier. They assessed, supported and saw things that ordinary people wouldn’t pick up on; and in good time too."

Martin and Diana 

Martin continued: "Another time, Diana voiced her concerns to Julie, one of the HCAs, about how the whole situation was taking a huge toll on me. I was having a particularly tough time. Julie sat and supported Diana for a long time after her shift ended, and the next call I received was from Rachel, the lead counsellor at the hospice, who arranged to come around to visit me at home to talk through my worries. The caring staff went above and beyond the call of duty. I have continued my counselling sessions with Rachel, and they have been a life saver.

"Diana was desperate to stay at home. She said she wanted to die at home, as pain free as possible. The staff from Blythe House; their care, support and the equipment organised via them made that possible, alongside palliative medical support from Dr Sarah Parnacott [consultant in palliative medicine at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, providing palliative care to patients across the High Peak and surrounding communities].

"Diana died peacefully in her sleep at home. I am devastated, but for Diana, being able to die as she wished, I’ll be forever grateful to Blythe House and Helen’s Trust. I am delighted to plant a sunflower in Diana’s memory, to support the incredible, ongoing work of the hospice." 

Dedicate a sunflower today to remember your loved one at www.blythehousehospice.org.uk/sunflower-memories

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