Almost a dozen volunteers, armed with 600 daffodils, took to the streets of Raglan for the annual Daffodil Day appeal, last week, looking “as bright as the daffodils” they were selling.
The Cancer Society Daffodil Day Appeal is an annual fund-raiser for the national organisation which declares its dedication “to reducing the incidence of cancer and ensuring the best cancer care for everyone in New Zealand.”
Cancer Society Daffodil Day Raglan Area Coordinator Jo Wallis said that most of the volunteers had “personal reasons” for giving their time to the appeal.
Volunteer Rochelle Lee-White said she had helped for a few years “but this year it’s more personal because my mum’s got cancer.”
According to the latest Ministry of Health statistics, 1 in 3 New Zealanders will be affected by cancer, either personally or through a close relative or friend.
Another volunteer, Jenny Francis, said she had battled cancer for more than two decades and was grateful for, not just the efforts of the Cancer Society, but, the professional care she had received through her 26 years of treatment.
“When you see this [appeal] going on, it’s such a hopeful thing,” she said.
Jo said that Jenny volunteered every year and “always has a smile on her face.”
She said she had a “heart-felt appreciation” towards the “very generous Raglan” community who gave “around the two-thousand dollar mark.”
“We really value people’s support. You know where this goes to and the research that they [Cancer Society] do to make things better.”
Jo said the team of volunteers, who sold all 600 of the fresh daffodils over the two days, brought a sense of “cheerfulness” to the appeal.
“They’re about as bright as the daffodils.”
She said that although it was “nice to walk away with a fresh bunch of flowers,” people who gave money to the appeal received much more.
“It’s a donation with a gift of hope.”
Marcia Ahern
