Cancer charity 'overjoyed' at sunflower donation

Supporters from Lingen Davies Cancer Support were invited to collect the sunflowers to support their £5m fundraising appeal

A Shropshire cancer charity worker is "overjoyed" after hundreds of sunflowers were donated as part of a new £5m fundraising initiative.

Lingen Davies Cancer Support hopes to provide a new cancer centre at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital by 2029.

They launched the appeal – which bosses say is their largest to date – in June.

Supporters were recently invited to collect as many sunflowers as they required from Shropshire Petal Fields near Newport, some of which will be sold to help with fundraising.

Fundraiser Jonathan Wood said the charity was "overjoyed" by the "unique offer" following the launch of its Sunflower Appeal.

Some of the bright yellow blooms will be sold in bunches, whilst many will be dried in preparation for upcoming events or used in the charity's wellbeing programme.

This year is the third that Shropshire Petal Fields - a collaboration between Shropshire Festivals and Shropshire Petals - has been open to the public.

The fields attract thousands of visitors, and include fresh delphiniums, cornflowers, sunflowers and other wildflowers.

Shropshire Petals has been running for 20 years, growing flowers to create bouquets and confetti for weddings and events.

The sunflowers will be sold in bouquets as well as used for the charity's wellbeing sessions

Ashley Evers-Swindell from Shropshire Petals said they were proud to support the charity.

"It's a small gesture from us, but one we hope brings a little sunshine to the incredible patients, families, and supporters they work with every day," she said.

Beth Heath, from Shropshire Festivals, added: "They do incredible work supporting the people of Shropshire, Telford, and Mid Wales as they deal with the impact of cancer on their lives,"

Charity bosses said the new cancer centre would double chemotherapy capacity in the region with 30 new bays alongside additional outpatients, lung and urology diagnostic clinics.

The charity hopes its fundraising appeal will help it open a new cancer centre at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital