Sunflower growing competition launches in Cornwall to raise money for Ukraine
People all around the world are getting involved
A giant sunflower growing competition is being held in Cornwall to help raise money for people in Ukraine.
The sunflower is the country's national flower.
Tess and Wilson and Laura Roberts, from the village of Baldhu between Chacewater and Carnon Downs, are organising the symbolic event.
It started out as a little competition between the two of them but they have decided to expand after posting a photo online.
The competition has now been named The Giant Sunflower Grow 2022 and people are asked for donations which will go towards providing health and medical supplies for people in Ukraine.
The pair are encouraging everyone to grow their own sunflowers but say people can also make them out of cardboard and colouring pens, to show solidarity with those caught up in the conflict.
Tess and Laura told us people all across the world are now wanting to get involved.
They said: "We have people all the way up and down the country, we have someone as far away as New Zealand, Thailand, so many people have joined already it's mind blowing really.
"We've got hundreds of members in the group on Facebook, all of our friends are sharing it and they are having their own competitions within their own family unit, it's fantastic really.
"It's just to help people get some healthcare or medication, any sort of donation is helpful it doesn't matter how much it is, but it is just to get help for people to rebuild their lives and get back in their community."
The Just Giving page has already raised over £200 of its £500 target.
Posting on the Facebook page, the pair said: "Laura and myself were going to have a little sunflower growing competition this year but when we put that online a few people said that they too would like to join in and its just this that gave us the idea to spread this as far as possible and get as many sunflowers glowing yellow this summer in support of the poor people of Ukraine that have and will loose every during this awful time.
"All we ask is £5 donation from each house or as little or as much as you would like to donate. For this you join the competition (for which there is no other prize other than being crowned the most awesome sunflower grower of the year of course) but we will give regular updates, ideas for what to do with your sunflower after it has flowered, like recipes etc, video tutorials on how to make model sunflowers, sunflower facts and just a big lot of spreading some sunshine and showing solidarity for the people that need it so very much. Even if the war was to end tomorrow people will need to rebuild their lives and have support.
"In the next day or 2 I will post where and how to donate, it will be via a go fund me page and will be paid directly to one of the charities we believe will put any money we give to the best possible causes in the country.
"With friends throughout the UK and Scotland, Ireland, Thailand, Japan, Australia, Bermuda, lots in the distant and exotic Redruth and others, lets see how much sunshine and support we can spread."