The Sunflower Children’s Hospice will be celebrating its 25th year on 9 June.
Joan Marston, founder of the hospice, says it is the oldest children’s hospice in South Africa and most likely the oldest in Africa.
“Our children’s hospice programme reaches back to 1991, when we cared for our first baby with a genetic condition – and after that many other children as part of our Bloemfontein/Naledi Hospice programme,” she explains.
“Sunflower was part of establishing the International Children’s Hospice Network in 2005 and the South African national network PatchSA in 2012.
“For 9 June we plan a Sunflower celebration with an open day where refreshments will be served; a small market will be held; and music, poetry from our community poets group, as well as short talks on the history and development, will be presented. At 17:00 a candle lighting will take place; in addition to the blessing of the Wall of Remembrance, which is to be repainted, a prayer blessing and an encirclement of Sunflower House to take us into the next 25 years.”
The chair of the Sunflower Children’s Hospice Trust in the UK, Ruth Smith, will be joining the festivities.
Marston says on 6 June a choir group in Columbus, Ohio, in America, will hold a Sunflower Festival, and friends in Bloemfontein will connect on Zoom so all can sing and share Sunflower love.
On 11 June at the Anglican Cathedral the service at 09:15 will be a thanksgiving service for Sunflower, followed by a community tea, where the Compassionate Community project will be launced.
Marston says they have a number of other activities planned throughout the year.
“We do hope you will join us on 9 June and celebrate with Sunflower.”
