Sunflowers of hope fill St. Thomas area fields
A St. Thomas area farmer has turned his darkest day into the brightest field in the London region.
Jay Curtis, 59, has thousands of sunflowers in bloom on several acres of land.
The flowers are a way of giving back to healthcare workers following a personal bout with cancer.
At 57, a PSA test and a follow-up biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of prostate cancer. “It changes the way you look at life after you go through something like that,” Curtis tells CTV London.
Grateful for his quick recovery, Curtis decided to plant sunflowers as a fundraiser for the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). His first effort raised over $10,000 in donations and revenue from selling the seeds for cooking oil. Now, the second season will go towards his area hospital.
Sunflowers for Hope field near St. Thomas, Ont. on Aug. 8, 2022. (Sean Irvine/CTV London)
“This year, we went with the St. Thomas local hospital, just for the chemo department. Last year was about me and what I did. This year is about other people.”
And that extends to the fields, where a neighbour offered up his pasture land to expand the “Sunflowers for Hope” project.
“It’s been a trying time for the last couple of years,” Mike Bechard reflects as he thinks of his neighbour’s battle with cancer.
Mike Bechard donated some of his former pasture land to expand the Sunflowers for Hope Project. (Sean Irvine/CTV London)
He says the decision to proceed with the crop was an easy one to make. “And if we can give back to the community and to the medical department, it would be great, because we’re all affected somehow,” Bechard said.
It's a point echoed by Curtis, who often wonders if his fields will be visited by others battling cancer and looking for hope.
“I’ve been there. It can end well, and that’s the message. Never give up hope!”.
The sunflowers are located on Mapleton Line, just north of St. Thomas. The public is invited to walk through the fields and take pictures. More information can be found here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal doctors' breakthrough discovery about causes of cerebral palsy giving hope
A breakthrough discovery made by doctors at the Montreal Children's Hospital about the causes of cerebral palsy is giving new hope to one West Island family.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
For years she thought her son had died of an overdose. The police video changed all that
Austin Hunter Turner died in 2017, on a night that his mother has rewound and replayed again and again, trying to make sense of what happened.
Feeling older than you are? It could be how you sleep
Not getting enough sleep may cause you to feel five to 10 years older than you really are, according to two new studies.
OPP seize $7.5 million worth of drugs in eastern Ontario
The Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police says one person is facing multiple charges after a traffic complaint on Highway 17 in Head Clara Maria Township.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Why Kim Kardashian is being sued for 'knockoff' furniture
The estate of minimalist contemporary artist Donald Judd filed a lawsuit against Kardashian this week, claiming the fashion and beauty mogul promoted 'cheap knockoffs' of his furniture designs.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.