A little boy is making a difference to those in hospice care one sunflower at a time. Ethan Howarth, four, came home from school with a sunflower and has since planted over 200 of them to raise vital funds for Willow Wood Hospice.
The youngster, who loves gardening with his family at their home in Newton, Hyde, decided alongside dad Ross to plant as many of the flowers as they could in their back garden and sell them on to raise funds.
Willow Wood Hospice provides specialist palliative care for patients with life limiting illnesses, both with cancer and non-cancer diagnosis. Services include an inpatient unit, day services, dementia support, and bereavement counselling.
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Dad Ross, who lost his mum to cancer ten years ago and has previously worked in hospice care, has helped his son plant hundreds of them in their garden, so far raising over £200 for the cause.
"It all started when he brought home a sunflower in a pot from school," Ross said. "We love gardening as a family and Ethan decided he wanted to plant some more.
"I suggested we should do something worthwhile. He loves going into the hospice shop and buying toys every weekend, so decided it would be valuable to raise money for a local charity that does amazing work.
"I lost my mum to cancer and have worked within hospice care myself, which massively helped me during such a difficult time. It is also a really important lesson for Ethan to learn about the work they do for people who are unwell and their families."
The family set up a Facebook page - Ethan's Charity Sunflowers - sharing pictures of the four-year-old planting the flowers and also naming them and watching their journey growing.
Along with dad Ross and mum Rachel, Ethan has also taken some to the hospice where they are beginning to flourish in the sun before being sold for a donation.
"We decided to set up the Facebook page and it all went from there," Ross added. "It isn't the world's biggest fundraiser but it was a small idea that has touched so many people.
"Even though Ethan is only four its important to explain to him what we have done and how it will help. It costs the hospice £5 a day for one patient breakfast.
"He is absolutely loving it and is enjoying planting them and watching them grow, and it all came from an idea that started out at school."
You can donate and buy a sunflower and follow Ethan's journey online here.
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