A BASINGSTOKE hospice is hosting its annual celebration in July to remember loved ones while raising vital funds for the centre.

St Michael’s Hospice is inviting people to attend the annual Sunflower Celebration in the gardens on Sunday, July 2.

The event is an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate their loved ones, while raising vital for the hospice.

The celebration starts at 2pm, and visitors can peruse stalls selling merchandise and items from the hospice’s shops.

There will also be a plant sale, raffles, refreshments, face painting and games. The hospice’s Living Well Service will also be showcasing some of the services that they provide.

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At 3pm there will be a service to remember and celebrate loved ones, with poems, songs and readings.

A ‘meadow’ of sunflowers will be displayed in the gardens – and each sunflower is dedicated in memory of someone special.

Everyone is invited to dedicate a sunflower to someone special – all funds raised through the dedications will help the Hospice continue its vital work caring for people with life-limiting illnesses across North Hampshire.

For donations of more than £30, the hospice is also offering a beautiful hanging sunflower keepsake for your garden.

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Director of income generation Lorraine Pink said: “We’d like to invite everyone to our Sunflower Celebration, it’s a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate loved ones, while supporting their local Hospice.

“This year, we need to raise £14,000 a day to continue providing our vital care – so whether you have a personal connection to the Hospice or not, we’d welcome you to come along and join us for this event.”

St Michael's Hospice is a registered charity and has an annual operating cost of £6.2m of which the hospice receives around 16 per cent funding from the government – the rest is raised through the generosity of the local community donating, fundraising and taking part in events like the Sunflower Celebration.

To find out more about the event or dedicate a sunflower to a loved one, visit stmichaelshospice.org.uk/sunflower23.