"The new garden will have a profound effect on the physical wellbeing of patients with the relaxing sounds of birds chirping, water flowing through the water feature and a beautiful environment to enjoy."
Being proudly locally owned and part of the community, Mitre 10 MEGA Dunedin has lent a helping hand to the Cancer Society to beautify Daffodil House Garden. As a cooperative, every year Mitre 10 support hundreds of community-based initiatives that help Kiwis love where they live, work, and play.
Cancer Society's Chief Executive Dr Rachael Hart says, “We were thrilled to have our project selected for Mitre 10 MEGA Dunedin’s Helping Hands initiative. The garden makeover looks fabulous, with a magnificent water feature, birdbath, new pavers, beautiful plants, outdoor furniture, and a pergola. Thanks to Mitre 10, our cancer clients can now enjoy this stunning outdoor area. A big thanks to the Naylor Love team, who helped with the construction.”
Getting a cancer diagnosis creates such uncertainty and stress in people's lives, and on top of that, they often had to travel away from loved ones for treatment—sometimes for up to seven weeks. Daffodil House offers a 'home away from home' to escape and relax, especially after rigorous treatment.
Neil Finn-House, Group CEO of Mitre 10 MEGA Dunedin & Mitre 10 Mosgiel, said, “The Cancer Society is such a worthy recipient of a welcome helping hand. We are a long-time supporter of the Cancer Society, and to create a garden that provides a place for cancer patients to reflect, commune with nature, and gain strength is wonderful.
"The new garden will have a profound effect on the physical wellbeing of patients with the relaxing sounds of birds chirping, water flowing through the water feature and a beautiful environment to enjoy."
Daffodil House welcomes guests for over 1,700 nights per year, is 50 metres away from the Dunedin Hospital, and has 11 rooms for patients and their partners. The accommodation is a welcome sanctuary after treatment and has a communal lounge and kitchen where patients form strong relations through the shared experience of treatment. The new garden will be a natural haven for people to relax in their beautiful surroundings.
A big thank you to everyone who contributed time or materials to the makeover, including Mitre 10 MEGA Dunedin, Naylor Love, Hall Brothers Transport, and Impact Roofing & Plumbing. We would like to extend a special thanks to our local Naylor Love Dunedin Project & Interiors team, who have generously donated their time to help give the garden a makeover.