Cook said the rose (launched at Burston Garden Centre in St Albans in March) is raising even more money than expected:
"I was approached by a friend in the trade Darran Major who is plantaria manager for Carpenter’s Nursery & Farm Shop, St. Albans. Darran had previously held the same position for Burston Garden Centre and whilst he was paying them a visit he was talking to Dawn Emerton one of the owners whose son Shey had recently undergone treatment for a brain tumour. Dawn was very keen to do something to raise awareness of the work that Brain Tumour Research were doing and to also raise some much needed funds for them at the same time, whilst discussing this with Darran she said wouldn’t it be nice to be able to name a plant to sell to raise funds.
"Darran contacted me as he knew that whilst I was at my previous company we had successfully launched “Time to Live” to raise funds for Breast Cancer Now and the seed was sown. I contacted my rose supplier and discussed with him the viability of getting a rose to market for this season as I was originally contacted back in the autumn, so I knew time and stock would be under pressure. We selected a scented yellow floribunda rose that was off license and then had discussions with Brain Tumour Research with regards to a suitable name and “Rose For Hope” was settled upon.
"We had access to 2,000 units and as a day of research costs the charity in the region of £2,700 that was what we initially aimed for as a target, Lucksbridge Marketing Ltd agreed to donate £1/unit for every rose sold and 98% of our customers have kindly agree to match donate £1/unit, thus doubling our contribution. To date we have sold over 1,400 units with a pretty good spread of stockists in England, and one in Wales, Scotland I am still working on and hope to hear something this week."
He plans to promote the rose at the National Plant Show at Stoneleigh on 21-22 June.
