An astonishing £415 raised for G.R.O.W.

The Grantham Seventh Day Adventist Church, with Carole Thompson as leader, organised a Spring Cream Tea on Monday 15thApril.

Along with Carole and her husband Vernon, members donated plants and hanging baskets containing herbs and flowers together with an assortment of garden plants.

This magnificent Scarecrow - with very smart trousers donated by Barnardos – won the name Russell Crow, or should we say Grow!

A number of hand knitted hedgehogs and other characters were made and donated along with pencil toppers, flower brooches and key rings.

The cream tea consisted of sandwiches, delicious homemade cakes and scones. “You cant beat an English cream tea”!

I was thrilled to be asked to join the group on Easter Saturday in prayer (together with some fabulous singing) to receive their cheque on behalf of GROW.

Carole, Elizabeth and I thought we might raise £100, you raised an incredible £415!

A very big thank you from GROW and all the patients and staff on ward 6 who will benefit from your donation.

GROW's successful beginning tinged with sadness

"Adopt a Garden" was initiated in 2018, and after months of negotiations it became clear that substantial funds would be necessary to make the project succeed. Subsequently Gardens Restore Our Wellbeing was launched. We quickly realised suitable trustees would be required to make the gardens a reality.

Sally Kelway, a passionate gardener, client and good friend had extensive experience of fundraising, having already saved her local Caythorpe church with lottery funding. I couldn’t think of anyone better to help us.

I emailed Sally about our cause who replied by return and said she would love to help; but could it be from the sidelines at the moment as she was undergoing some treatment – shockingly, Sally died a week later.

I was touched to hear that Sally’s family had chosen G.R.O.W. as a recipient for funeral donations and completely overwhelmed when Sally's wonderful family and friends raised a staggering £2,217.55.

On behalf of G.R.O.W. and all the patients and staff who will benefit from these gardens. Thank you so much Sally, Tim, Anna and Jack, we are very grateful and this donation fuels our determination to go on and build many more gardens.