A young girl from Norfolk has captured hearts across the country by raising more than £24,000 for cancer research in memory of her grandfather through a plant stall outside her family home.
Lucy, aged nine, began her charitable venture in Reepham in 2024, after the death of her grandad, Derek Easton, who died that year following a six-year battle with retroperitoneal liposarcoma, a rare form of soft tissue cancer.
In his memory, she initially set up a wooden cabinet in her driveway to sell flowers and greenery to passersby.
After just two months, due to excessive demand, Lucy needed to upgrade. A local builder and friend of her grandad's built her a wooden stall, which is now packed with plants.
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The funds have been donated to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which supports patients and their families while developing new treatments for the disease.
Mr Easton received treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London throughout his illness.
"I wanted to do something that would make people happy," Lucy told the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
"Flowers are something that always make people smile, so I thought I could grow some plants from seed and sell them.
Lucy has raised £24,000
|ROYAL MARSDEN CANCER CHARITY
"Over the summer of 2024, we kept an eye out for garden centres or anyone we knew giving away plants for free. We also started to grow some plants from seed."
The fundraising effort carries profound personal significance for Lucy and her family.
Lucy's mother, Claire, spoke movingly about the care her father received, saying: "They gave him another six years of life, which without them we would not have had."
The family described this extended time together as a precious "gift" they wished to repay.
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Lucy's grandfather, Derek, died in 2024 following a six-year battle with retroperitoneal liposarcoma, a rare form of soft tissue cancer
|ROYAL MARSDEN CANCER CHARITY
Lucy conceived the plant stall idea as a way to honour her grandfather's memory while helping others facing similar circumstances.
The stall has attracted visitors from across the region, with customers travelling from Gorleston, Aylsham and the local Reepham area to purchase plants.
Community members have rallied behind Lucy's initiative, contributing plants, pots, compost and seeds to keep her enterprise flourishing.
Her stock includes pansies, impatiens and lobelias, with Lucy restocking daily to meet demand.
"I really enjoy running my stall," Lucy said. "It’s lovely to meet people who come and buy plants from me. We found it was a nice way to cope after grandad died and it felt good to do something positive.
The stall has attracted visitors from across the region, with customers travelling from Gorleston, Aylsham and the local Reepham area to purchase plants
|ROYAL MARSDEN CANCER CHARITY
"I have learnt a lot; even my mum and nanny, who were never into gardening, can name lots of plants now. Looking after my stall is something we can do together.
"We often spend a Saturday afternoon re-potting plants, restocking my stall, and finding new seeds to plant."
The young entrepreneur described reaching her first £1,000 as a "huge achievement" in her fundraising journey.
One particularly touching moment occurred when a gentleman drove 20 miles to locate her stall after hearing about her efforts.
"He hadn't come to buy anything but wanted to give me a plant which his sister had tended to for many years.
"She had sadly passed away from cancer, so he wanted to say thank you for trying to help," Lucy recalled.
However, the most extraordinary gesture came at Christmas when an anonymous benefactor matched her entire fundraising total, bringing the sum over £24,000.
"The generosity of strangers is incredible, and that one gesture left me speechless. It was the best Christmas present I could've ever asked for!" Lucy said.
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