10 May 2023 Community

Caroline and her family have taken part in our Sunflower Memories Appeal for the last decade

For the last decade families across Kirklees have taken part in our Sunflower Memories Appeal. One person who will find this year's appeal even more significant is Caroline Rogers, who is taking part for the first time without her dad by her side.

Caroline and her dad William had taken part every year in our sunflower memories appeal to remember their loving mum and wife Jeanette. However this year Caroline will be remembering her mum on her own as William sadly died at the age of 85 at the end of 2022.

Caroline was one of the first ever people to dedicate one of our beautiful sunflowers in memory of her mum who died in June 2012.

Talking about why they took part, Caroline said: "My mum died in 2012 just before her 77th birthday, she was cared for by The Kirkwood at both the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and at the site in Dalton. The staff at The Kirkwood were amazing, they made sure mum was as comfortable as could be and they made sure my dad was ok too. They couldn't do enough for you. Dad used to drive up every day and sit with her on the In-Patient Unit.

"We come to the sunflower memories event every year as a whole family. We are a close family and so it was a good opportunity to meet up and bring dad down. With mum dying in June it was close to the sunflower appeal and we liked the fact you had something physical to take away. We came to the event and had a chat, cup of tea and looked around the stalls, it was something we all wanted to do.

"Taking part in the appeal this year will be extra emotional with dad not being here. I think the sunflower memory appeal is Important, it gave me, my dad and the family a chance to remember mum, it also was good to thank the people every year that looked after her so well.

"The Kirkwood is so important in our local community, and that's why we keep supporting it. I will continue to do the sunflower memory appeal and remember dad as well as mum. Dad wasn't cared for by The Kirkwood but our connection through the sunflower appeal will always be special."

We want to thank Caroline for her, and her family's continued support, without them we wouldn't be able to care for the people we do across Kirklees.

Find out more about Sunflower Memories Appeal HERE.