A huge thank you to Louise Barnett, who hosted a very successful Open Garden this summer and raised an incredible £2,407! Here, she writes about why she decided to fundraise for GRACE:

“I decided to open my garden in Oakham, in Rutland to raise money for GRACE because I lost my lovely Mum to ovarian cancer.  GRACE is a charity funding improvements in diagnosis and treatment of gynaecological cancers and carrying out research to improve patient outcomes.

I come from a large family of gardeners who were taught the pleasures of gardening by our Mum and Dad, Eve and John Torr.

I am totally inspired by my Mum who while bringing up 7 children and helping Dad with his business, still found time to grow amazing plants, vegetables and flowers in their large garden.   Sadly my mum died from ovarian cancer when she was only 59.  It was a tragedy and had a devastating effect on us all.  She never had a day’s illness before she was diagnosed at a late stage and with few treatment options.  She lived only 9 months from diagnosis. Ovarian cancer is prevalent in post-menopausal women so I want women to be aware of the symptoms. If you feel bloated, loose weight, suffer changes in your eating, bowel or bladder habit, have niggling pelvic pain go to your GP and ask if it could be ovarian cancer, it might save your life. Thank you mum for letting me pick your sweet peas and collect earwigs from the dahlias and for teaching me how to love gardening.

I want to thank all my friends and family who helped to make the open garden such a success, we raised £2407 – which is totally amazing.  Thank you everyone who contributed to such a successful day.”