A family which has supported City Hospice’s Forever Flowers campaign since the beginning will remember a much loved husband and dad with a limited edition daffodil this summer.
Forever Flowers is an annual campaign, now in its fifth year, which invites supporters to remember cherished family members, friends, colleagues and other loved ones with a unique and lasting tribute. The charity’s Forever Flower this year is the daffodil, Wales’ national flower, which for many symbolises hope, resilience and new beginnings.
The daffodils will feature in a striking display within the grounds of Cardiff Castle from Saturday 2 to Sunday 10 August, with a special Celebration of Life event taking place on Thursday 7 August.
Rebecca Bullen and daughter Ffion, 8, helped launch the Forever Flowers campaign five years ago and have bought a flower every year in memory of husband and dad Carl who sadly passed away in 2019 with cancer.
Rebecca said: “City Hospice cared for Carl in the last couple of months of his illness in 2019. The nurses that visited us listened to both of our worries and provided Carl with medication and aids to help keep him comfortable. They provided compassion and support as Carl and I faced our fears together, and then again through another challenge: helping our young daughter to understand the loss of her dad.
“I was put in touch with the charity’s counselling team to discuss how to help Ffion, who was just 2 at the time, with advice on how to speak to her about her dad. It has been very comforting to have that support and know that the services that City Hospice offer are there for us both.”
Ffion said: “City Hospice helps me when I go and see Sophie. We do drawings and one of my favourite things is when we draw leaves and falling leaves. The falling leaves are memories I want to let go and the leaves still on the tree are feelings that I want to keep with me.”
The Bullen family have been active fundraisers for the charity since Carl’s death, taking on incredible challenges and embracing each new Forever Flower year after year. Rebecca and Ffion visit the display at Cardiff Castle every year before taking home their flowers to ‘plant’ in a dedicated part of their garden.
Rebecca said: “Forever Flowers is a special campaign to be involved with. We always look forward to seeing the beautiful displays at the castle and can’t wait to go along for a fifth time this year to see our daffodil.”
Ffion said: “I like the designs of the flowers and all the details. At the Celebration of Life, I like all the songs the choir sings. The flowers and everything remind me of Daddy and help me remember him, especially when we take them home.”
