Donations to Gilberdyke Garden Centre’s 2021 Marie Curie Memory Tree have this week reached the £1,000 mark with still over a month left to go.
The tree has become an annual feature at the garden centre in the lead up to Christmas after first launching in 2014. Over the years the tree has raised over £11,000 for the charity with the total continuing to rise each year. The project was launched by local Marie Curie volunteer Dorothy Rumford who raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the charity during her life.
After Dorothy’s passing in 2015, her daughter Pauline Hornsey, who also volunteers with the charity took over the running of the memory tree along with fellow volunteer Cynthia Radcliffe. Pauline said: “Myself and my Mum both volunteered with Marie Curie for over 20 years and have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds. It’s such an important cause ensures that people who are in their final hours and days can be in the comfort of their own home. “My Mum came up with the idea for the memory tree after saying a similar idea where people could dedicated a bauble to a loved one. She came up with the idea of having the tag and the Marie Curie Daffodil and the tree was launched. “She saw the first year but passed away in 2015, so myself and Cynthia have continued the tree since then with the support of the garden centre.” She added: “Gilberdyke Garden Centre have been so supportive, before we launched the tree they supported us with tombolas and raffles too and we are so grateful for all their support.”
The tree will remain in place until the end of January for people to make a dedication to a loved one and support the amazing cause. A spokesperson for Gilberdyke Garden Centre said: “Dorothy was a regular customer at the garden centre and when she asked if we would like to support the memory tree we jumped at the chance because everyone knows someone who has been supported by the charity, so we knew we wanted to get on board.”
Jan Lynch and daughter Hattie, 5, adding a tag to the Marie Curie Memory Tree at Gilberdyke Garden Centre along side staff, staff Morag Longwell and Ellie Denton. (09-12-79 GT)
