A Norfolk farmer has donated his entire crop of 90,000 sunflowers to help raise money for a £12.5m new hospice.
Rob Alexander, whose family's farming business is based at Pulham Market near Diss, grew the colourful crop after being inspired by the sunflower fields of Tuscany.
And now the towering yellow flowers are being sold to raise money for the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity, which is close to its £12.5m target to build the Priscilla Bacon Lodge.
The new centre nearing completion at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital will provide state-of-the-art palliative care for people with terminal or life-limiting illnesses.
Mr Alexander donated the sunflowers to his partner Trina Beare, managing director of Norwich-based industrial supplies company Lamberts, who is using them as part of its corporate fundraising pledge to the charity.
"The team has been fundraising in a range of ways, including sponsored bike rides, bumblebee seed bombs and football squares," she said.
"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 hot cakes, but we still have many stems to sell."
The sunflowers are 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.
Jordan Codling, head of retail for the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity added: "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.”
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 care facility.
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