Daffodil Day provides sense of hope

To mark the occasion, the GV Health Foundation has again bloomed alongside local businesses and volunteers to raise vital funds for cancer care in the region.

This year, the fundraiser looks more significant, contributing to the foundation’s I Care for Cancer Care appeal, which is working towards a fully integrated cancer centre at GV Health.

The foundation’s Amy De Paola said Daffodil Day was a natural fit for the campaign.

“Daffodil Day is probably something most people are familiar with in terms of a fundraiser representing cancer fundraisers,” Ms De Paola said.

“So, we thought we would utilise it to fundraise as part of that campaign.”

Continuing its four-decade tradition of supporting Daffodil Day, and the partnership with the GV Health Foundation that flourished last year, Renato’s Florist will again donate all proceeds raised in-store to the foundation.

It is a partnership that store owner Leeanne Archer says comes down to more than just the day itself, but to highlight what the GV Health Foundation is doing for the region.

“I think it’s great to be able to support the Cancer Council but also to target our local people,” Ms Archer said.

“It’s just nice to be able to contribute to the community.”

Last year, Renato's Florist’s efforts produced $700, on top of the $1000 the foundation raised.

This year, both contributors are looking to top those efforts.

“We’re looking to at least double or triple last year’s,” Ms De Paola said.

“That would be ideal,” Ms Archer said.

In addition to Renato’s, the foundation has also partnered with NorthEnd Bakehouse and Peter Halliday, a local man who makes handcrafted metal “forever daffodils” after losing a loved one to breast cancer.

Bunches of daffodils, biscuits and forever daffodils will be sold at Renato’s Florist at 121A Wyndham St between 8am and 5pm and the main entrance at GV Health, next to the Glasshouse Café, from 9am.

Each bunch of daffodils will contain five stems, priced at $10, with biscuits and forever daffodils being $5 each.

Every dollar raised will go towards the I Care for Cancer Care appeal’s $5 million target.

The campaign, which was launched in June, currently sits at $1,049,178, thanks $1 million from the Peter and Maria Copulos Foundation, with community fundraising nearing $50,000.

“It’s early days of gaining momentum, but we’ve got lots of exciting partnerships coming up,” Ms De Paola said.

For everything cancer takes, show up and give hope to those affected this Daffodil Day.