A floral display with feeling

from Cardiff Times - April 2022

Chu Chi Curry – Tempeh (vegan)

by Natalie McCulloch

Losing a loved one is never easy and the grieving process is unique to every individual. One quote which illustrates this beautifully is:

When we lose someone that we love we must learn not to live without them, but to live with the love they left behind

How this love is lived out may be in the small day to day acts, the things we do, the ways we behave or the stories we tell to keep their spirit alive. Similarly, how they are remembered will be unique to those involved; from photos, to conversations through to memory bears or cushions made out of their clothes. Every approach is different, because everyone is different! One heart-warming opportunity which provides the public with a unique means to remember a loved one is via the City Hospice limited edition ‘Forever Flowers’ campaign.

These flowers are expertly crafted by the British Ironwork Centre and can be purchased by the public to remember those that have passed. The ‘Forever Flowers’ will feature in a striking display within the beautiful grounds of Cardiff Castle over two weeks between 30th July – 14th August. On the final weekend of the display people will be able to collect their Forever Flower. They can then be cherished in a place that’s special to you as a lasting tribute to someone you love. If you can’t make it to the castle that weekend alternative arrangements can be made.

All the money is used to support City Hospice to provide their vital support so that each person in their care can live their lives to the fullest for as long as possible and so that families can have that essential support even following a bereavement.

And it really does make a difference.

Amanda Fenton, Fundraising and Marketing Director at City Hospice is evidence of this. Her husband received the care of City Hospice prior to her working with them. She told CT, “We were so shocked when Mike received a terminal diagnosis at the age of 58 and it wasn’t long before City Hospice came to help. The care he received was exceptional, but I also received support. The hospice offers a range of services and I found reflexology helped me sleep at a time rest didn’t come easy. When the worst happened and we lost Mike 11 months later, the bereavement counselling got me through the darkest days and helped me on the bumpy road of looking to the future. I often describe the hospice as becoming our ‘safe place’. It’s a privilege now to be part of such an incredible charity helping other families just like us.”

So why is City Hospice so important to Cardiff?

Have you heard of the saying ‘Home is where the heart is’? Well, this definitely stands true when it comes to City Hospice in Cardiff. The incredible City Hospice team cares for patients aged 18 years + across the city, managing their symptoms and offering essential support in their own homes alongside their Centre at ‘Ty Hosbis’. They help patients and their families, aged 18 upwards with diagnoses such as Cancer, Dementia, Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or other life-limiting illnesses. Not only do they offer essential support throughout a person’s illness, but they also continue to offer this essential care for families following bereavement.

Every month, new patients are referred to City Hospice for care. Referrals are made from the palliative care team at Velindre Cancer Centre, the University Hospital of Wales, or from a patient’s own GP.

City Hospice is not a bedded unit. Instead, they offer care and support to patients in their own homes and some patients attend the day centre in Whitchurch, Cardiff. Their dedicated team spend time understanding the preferences of those they care for and where they wish to stay. They work with patients and their families to support whatever their choice might be. Given the option, many patients choose to remain at home and the teamwork tirelessly to support their wishes.

City Hospice centre Ty Hosbis, is pretty phenomenal in itself. It is described as being ‘so much more than what may come to mind when you think of a hospice’. The centre is a bright, welcoming, and vibrant place where a community is seen in action. The team take the energies of volunteers and the funds raised by supporters and use these collective efforts to support families throughout the city of Cardiff.

In order to keep up their incredible work, they need to raise more than £2m each year from charitable donations and fundraising events. This ensures their nurses can remain out in the local communities; to ensure patients are being given the best treatment, and that families know where to turn in times of need. Fundraising has been particularly hard during the pandemic as, at a time when the service needs to be increased, the opportunity to raise funds through events and shop sales was paused. Amanda outlines this by saying, “It was a difficult time for everyone during the pandemic and

we are so proud that our team continued to provide care to people in their homes at a time they needed it most.”

The charity has also extended its bereavement support so that anyone in Cardiff who has experienced a bereavement can access their support, not just those whose loved one was cared for by City Hospice. Funds are needed more than ever now, to enable the hospice to continue to provide their exceptional care.

Any funds raised have a massive impact on the charity and can help them to continue to care for patients with life-limiting illnesses, and their families, across Cardiff. ‘Forever Flowers’ is a powerful and particularly beautiful way to celebrate a life and help raise these funds.

This year, ‘Forever Flowers’ aims to be even BIGGER AND MORE BEAUTIFUL than last year! Your help, and support, is welcomed! This year the charity has chosen a Sunflower, which for many symbolises positivity, admiration, loyalty, and devotion.

‘Forever Flowers’ is for everyone, not just those who were cared for by City Hospice and provides the opportunity for people to talk about their grief, reflect, remember a loved one and celebrate life with a lasting tribute. In 2021 people came from all around the country to visit the display and to purchase them.

The seeds of ‘Forever Flowers’ were planted in 2021, during the height of the Covid 19 pandemic. During this time City Hospice recognised that people couldn’t grieve in the usual way for those that they had lost and the needs for their services were increasing, due to this the ‘Forever Flowers’ campaign was born. One lady bought 24 flowers – one for every member of the family as they couldn’t have a funeral in the normal way.

All of the money raised goes directly to helping keep City Hospice and running its incredible range of services, from emotional support to practical assistance to complementary therapies.

You are invited to get involved and be a part of the beautiful bloom which is set to grace Cardiff Castle this summer! The display can be seen in the Castle and looks particularly stunning from the tower. Counsellors will be on hand to help offer support during the display just as they were last year. Amanda added, “It’s a moving display to witness when you stand back and take a moment to reflect that every flower is a life, not forgotten, but celebrated and remembered.”

If you would like to purchase a flower, or find out more about this campaign, visit: www.cityhospice.org.uk/forever-flowers

Or call: 02920 524150

Email: fundraising@cityhospice.org.uk

Social media: @cityhospice

Please consider supporting City Hospice, if able, so that they can support our community and show that like scattered seeds, memories bloom forever.