Dorset County Hospital Charity’s Emergency and Critical Care appeal has received a major boost following the announcement of the total fundraising figure from Dorset Sunflower Trail in summer 2024.
The Hoskin family of Maiden Castle Farm visited the hospital in Autumn 2024 to celebrate the success of the many and varied events that took place at this year’s trail and to reveal the final amount raised.
In total £16,300 was donated by Hazel and her family which will go towards the charity’s Emergency and Critical Care Appeal. This also brings the amount raised by Dorset Sunflower Trail for Dorset County Hospital to an amazing £63,000.
Hazel Hoskin said,
“We were determined to smash through the £50,000 mark this year for the total we’ve been able to donate to Dorset County Hospital through our sunflower events to date. We want to thank everyone who came to visit the Dorset Sunflower Trail and also those who took part in the associated events. We love having the public come to see what we’re doing on the farm – it’s our way of giving something back for the incredible care our family has received from Dorset County Hospital over the years.”
The presentation was marked by a Thank You celebration in Dorset County Hospital’s Damers restaurant last October with a number of specially invited guests. Simon Pearson, Head of Charity was asked to pick the winning tickets for the Sunflower raffle which has been running throughout the summer, with some amazing prizes including a driftwood sculpture donated by ‘I made this 76’.
In total over 11,000 thousand people visited the Dorset Sunflower Trail last summer, joining in with events such as the sundowner evenings, story time and pilates. In addition, money was raised by Art in Poundbury and a number of local businesses in and around Dorchester, as well as through initiatives managed by Dorchester Town Council.
Vicky Hunt, Fundraising Officer for Dorset County Hospital Charity said,
“This is an amazing achievement by Hazel and her family and we are very grateful that we received her support for another year. I visited the sunflowers both to help at an event and also with my family. My son loved seeing the sunflowers and it made me appreciate all the hard work that had gone into making the experience so memorable.”
Simon Pearson, Head of Charity, said,
“Hazel is an inspiration. This is an extraordinary level of support which will benefit so many patients including babies and children, now and for years to come. Our heartfelt thanks to Hazel and her family for their tremendous fundraising and valued commitment to supporting patient care at Dorset County Hospital. “
This is the fourth year that the Hoskin family have supported the hospital through this event – with nearly £47,000 raised in the first three years. The first Dorset Sunflower Trail in 2021 funded cerebral monitoring equipment for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), the 2022 event raised much needed funds for the Kingfisher Children’s Ward, as well as for a children’s hospital in Ukraine. In 2023 the sunflower trail raised a further £15,400 which is being used to improve family facilities on the SCBU.
Fundraising by Hazel and her family will continue in 2025 and we are excited to see what the sunflower Trail at Maiden Castle Farm has instore this summer. Keep an eye on our website for more information.
To find out more about the DCH Emergency and Critical Care Appeal click here.
To discuss ways of fundraising to support the Appeal contact Vicky on Vicky.hunt@dchft.nhs.uk.
For information about how you can support the Appeal visit our Events and Challenges page or contact a member of the charity team via charity@dchft.nhs.uk
