Lockdown sunflower art to raise funds for suicide prevention services 06 January 2021 | Fundraising | By Norfolk & Waveney Mind An 80-year-old Wymondham resident who painted sunflowers to get her through the first lockdown is sowing the seeds of hope by selling her art to help people affected by suicide in Norfolk and Waveney. Kathy Slade turned to art to cope with being stuck at home while shielding, and was inspired to paint sunflowers following a newspaper article calling for people to paint the summery blooms for the emergency services and key workers. Now her paintings have been turned into beautiful notelets which will be sold online with proceeds going to lNorfolk and Waveney Mind’s suicide prevention and bereavement service. The notelets have kindly been printed free of charge by local firms Wensum Print and Expert Print Management. Kathy said: “During lockdown I found that painting has helped me to focus on something positive, especially as I had to shield due to my age. I've painted several things during lockdown last year, including the sunflower, and put them in my window for my neighbours and local residents to enjoy. “I know through my daughter, who works at Norfolk and Waveney Mind, about the invaluable work they do to help those bereaved by suicide and I wanted to use my paintings to help them.” Kathy’s daughter Hayley Gerrard, who is a suicide bereavement liaison worker at the charity, added: “I know from personal experience that a bereavement by suicide is a very unique form of grief. By providing support to those affected by suicide, we can make a positive difference to those we work with and ensure that everyone who wants it, gets the support they need.” You can buy the notelets at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hayley-gerrard2 Share Tweet Share on WhatsApp