In return for a donation to support patient care, St. Rocco’s has invited people to dedicate an everlasting sunflower to celebrate a loved one. The sunflowers will have pride of place in front of the town hall for the next two weeks for everyone in the community to enjoy before the loved ones can collect their sunflowers from St. Rocco’s.

With so many sunflowers to plant, St. Rocco’s were delighted to accept help from Year 9 students from Penketh High School and even the Mayor of Warrington lent a helping hand!

“The students have really enjoyed the morning and especially being able to help with something so positive,” said Michaela Levitt, Year 9 Learning Mentor at the high school.

Also helping with the planting was hospice volunteer Margaret Wilkinson who has supported St. Rocco’s with promoting the event. Sunflowers are very close to Margaret’s heart as they were her daughter Johanne’s favourite flower and Margaret plants them every year to remember her. She brought all her family with her, including her other daughter’s little girl Erin, aged 2, who joined in enthusiastically planting the sunflowers.

“We’re delighted that Warrington Borough Council have made a space for our sunflowers here at the Town Hall,” said Pam Massey, Chief Executive of St. Rocco’s,

“St. Rocco’s exists to serve the community of Warrington. It’s their hospice and it’s thanks to their continued generosity that we are able to carry on caring for those who need us and their families. It is wonderful to see these sunflowers here, showing that St. Rocco’s is at the very heart of its community. We hope that everyone will enjoy seeing them.”

To mark the start of the two week display, St. Rocco’s had a ‘Yellow Day’ on Friday, with other businesses and organisations around the town joining in by making a donation to the hospice to wear something yellow.

If anyone would like to dedicate a sunflower, there is still time to do so or call 01925 575780.

See more pictures of our sunflowers being planted.