Afterglow of sunflower sale felt far away in Africa

By Sandra Thomas-Staff writer

The organizer of a small grassroots fundraising project for HIV/AIDS relief in Africa says she had no idea how popular her idea would become.

Three years ago Suzy Coulter, a community nurse in the Downtown Eastside, asked friends and volunteers to grow sunflower seedlings to be sold at a Mother's Day sale with 100 per cent of the proceeds dedicated to women and children in Kenya suffering or orphaned by AIDS.

Coulter said all the money raised by Turn to the Sun goes to programs run by the Stephen Lewis Foundation such as child and bereavement counselling, advocacy workshops and preventing the transmission of HIV from mothers to children. Lewis is a former United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa.

"That first sale was a huge success," she said. "And now this year we're holding two sales, one on the East Side and one on the West."

Coulter, who's been working in the field of HIV for 18 years, was moved to organize the initial sale after spending four months in Kenya where she volunteered at a hospital for people with HIV and AIDS. The trip changed her life and she's anxious to return.

Next month Coulter will travel to the International Center for Equal Healthcare Access in New York, where she'll train as a mentor so that when she returns to Kenya she can better assist African health-care professionals.

HIV tests are free in Kenya, but those diagnosed as positive must pay for further blood tests or chest X-rays to determine how advanced the disease is. Coulter describes the hospital she volunteered at as so crowded there were two patients to a bed, while other patients slept on the floor.

While the sunflower sale began as a Downtown Eastside initiative, last year West Side resident Claire Kennedy volunteered to get involved.

"I heard Suzy on the CBC being interviewed about the sale and I was amazed at her energy," said Kennedy, who works as a garden designer. "I'm also a real fan of Stephen Lewis and I thought if I'm going to get involved with anything this would be the project."

Kennedy attended last year's sale and met Coulter in person. She left her name as a potential volunteer and when Coulter called six weeks ago to suggest a West Side sale, Kennedy jumped at the chance.

"But as a garden designer this is a crazy time of year for me so I recruited some friends," said Kennedy. "Some of my friends are growing sunflower seedlings and others are helping me organize the sale and doing things like making T-shirts."

Kennedy calls the chance to get involved in HIV/AIDS relief in Africa a "no brainer."

"The Western world has turned its back on these people," said Kennedy. "I think there's a lot of frustration from people who don't know how to help, but when I heard Stephen Lewis's passion and Suzy's passion I knew I had to get involved."

Kennedy hopes people will buy the seedlings as an alternative to more traditional Mother's Day gifts.

"The sunflowers are the tokens, but I hope people come out to donate," she said.

More than 30 varieties of sunflowers will be available for sale May 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 2133 East Seventh Ave., as well as 6360 Larch St., between West 47th and West 49th avenues.

published on 05/02/2007