Norfolk farmer Rob Alexander has donated his entire crop of 90,000 sunflowers to Priscilla Bacon Hospice’s campaign to raise the last £1m needed for its new facility. His partner, Trina Beare, MD of Lamberts, explains more
A Norfolk farmer has donated his entire crop of 90,000 sunflowers to help raise money for the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity, who are fundraising to build the new Priscilla Bacon Lodge.
Rob Alexander, who farms land in South Norfolk, grew the crop after being inspired by the sunflower fields of Tuscany. Rob has donated the sunflowers to his partner Trina Beare, Managing Director of Norwich-based industrial supplies company Lamberts, who is using them as part of a corporate fundraising pledge to the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity.
Earlier this year, the Charity launched its 500 Club, an initiative that over 150 local businesses have joined, to help raise the final £250,000 needed to complete the new facility.
Trina Beare, Managing Director of Lamberts says: ‘The team has been fundraising in a range of ways, including sponsored bike rides, bumble bee seed bombs and football squares. We’ve already raised over £1,000, but we wanted to do something to share some sunshine in people’s lives. The sunflowers were an obvious choice, and it is so fantastic Rob has donated them. They have been selling like hotcakes, but we still have many stems to sell.’
The sunflowers are currently being sold for a suggested donation of £1 per stem, across the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity’s nine shops: Anglia Square Norwich, Aylsham, Bowthorpe, Cromer, Drayton, North Walsham, Sheringham, Stalham and Taverham.
Once the new hospice is complete, the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity will continue to enhance the experience of patients and their loved ones in the Lodge. The Charity will supplement the core services, which will continue to be funded and delivered by the NHS. These elements enrich care before, at the point of, and after death. Beyond this, the Charity will support research, education and training that will improve care at the new Lodge, in the community and across the county.
Jordan Codling, Head of Retail for the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity adds: ‘The sunflowers are a brilliant idea and Lamberts have had a real passion to raise as much as they can for our new building. We are incredibly grateful for their ongoing support, as the sunflowers have been a lovely addition to our shops, and we are encouraging people to pop down to grab a stem, and a bargain to boot.’
Priscilla Bacon Hospice will be selling the flowers for £1 a stem in its network of charity shops across Norfolk. For more information about The 500 Business Club please visit Priscilla Bacon Hospice.
Featured image: Trina Beare, MD Lamberts (right) Rob Alexander, Farmer (centre) and Sue Bird, Store Manager Priscilla Bacon, Bowthorpe (left).
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