American Cancer Society begins annual Daffodil Days fundraiser

Flowers can serve as more than just Valentine’s Day gifts this season – they can help support the fight against cancer.

The American Cancer Society’s annual Daffodil Days fundraiser is scheduled for the week of March 23, after spring break, and the Society is looking for volunteers to help.

Daffodil Days is a national event and one of the American Cancer Society’s largest fundraisers. It encourages people to purchase a bunch of daffodils, with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society, said Mary Ann Miller, committee chair of Daffodil Days.

The reason daffodils are chosen as the symbolic flower of hope for this campaign is the persevering nature of the flower, said Andrea Curtis-French, Bloomington’s American Cancer Society community representative.

That persevering nature, she said, represents those fighting against cancer.
“We choose the daffodil because it’s the first flower to come up every spring,” Curtis-French said. “It’s very resilient. It pushes through the snow. It fights.”

The fresh-cut flowers come in bunches of 10 for $10, and a bouquet of daffodils in a vase costs $15.

Those interested in helping the cause but not in purchasing daffodils have the option of purchasing the Gift of Hope, a bunch of daffodils sent anonymously to cancer patients in a local treatment facility.

“It is the perfect way to spread hope and give them that little boost during treatment,” Curtis-French said.

The Gift of Hope begins at $25 and can go up to $50, $75, $150 and $200, with each level supporting a larger number of cancer patients.

Miller said she hopes to involve students and faculty and inspire them to volunteer.

As a volunteer, one can help take daffodil requests as well as pack and deliver daffodils in March, in preparation for delivery. The initial request deadline is Feb. 13, but requests can be placed until March 14.

“For me, this one donation, this one time a year, I think is just too important to pass up,” Miller said.

Money raised from the Daffodil Days fundraiser goes to free programs and services to help people with cancer and fund cancer research.

“This is the perfect opportunity to do something larger than yourself,” Curtis-French said.