Winter Rose Trust in aid of cancer research

This site has a lot created much interest over the two years I have been running it, the new designs for the directory and "The Rose Gardens" are in the pipeline and almost finished, However it is becoming more and more difficult for me to finance the site from my own pocket, If you can afford to make a small donation to help with the running costs you may do so using the button on the right, thank you.

We are thrilled to announce that domains for these countries are now active and the mirror sites are now online, Click on the flag of the country who's site you wish to visit. If you live in one of these countries and would like to help run the site or even just send us some useful links and addresses or even add a domain for another country please contact us at: world@winterrosetrust.co.uk Thanks. Phil

A COLD DECEMBER MORNING

It was a cold winters night around December 2006 and I went to bed hoping to come up with the answer, after a long time in thought I eventually fell asleep only to wake in the morning still with no ideas, I got out of bed, dressed and opened the curtains, It was a bleak December morning and everywhere was white with snow from the night, the only thing which broke the dominance of the blanket of white were the bare bones of the tree's silhouetted on the winter skyline, As I surveyed the landscape I saw a splash of co lour in the corner of my eye and looked down to see what it was, right outside my window there is a rose bush and there on top of it was a single beautiful yellow rose in full bloom, It was amazing against all odds this tiny flower had turned the tables, All around it was the death and cold of winter and yet this seemed to defy all with the hope of spring, I have to admit I just stared at it for a while and just thought, it's a winter rose! that was the answer! "The Winter Rose", bringing co lour, light and hope to a bleak landscape, That moment has been the inspiration for this whole site and everything, It started with just me and rose but I am now glad to say I have had offers of help from others who want to help not just to keep the rose alive but to help it grow.

OUR AIMS

Originally the idea of the site was just to raise funds for Cancer Research, After speaking to many people on the subject of cancer I realized the rose could also be useful in other areas and these will be incorporated into the site over the next few months or so, First off we will be turning part of the site into a global directory for cancer contacts abroad, Learning that someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer is bad enough but if they are thousands of miles away it must be a thousand times worse, Therefore we intend to create mirror sites of this one in other country's but with information pertaining to that particular country, We already have interest from people who would like to run such sites and are on the look out for more, If you are interested please mail us at: Winter Rose Trust for more details.

THE ROSE GARDENS

When I have told people about my own battle with cancer many people have said how unlucky it was to have got cancer, I have always replied that I think myself to be very lucky indeed, Why? because I am still here after 8 years to tell the tale, Other people are not quite so fortunate as myself, cancer has taken them away , We have had numerous requests to do a virtual memorial garden where those less fortunate than ourselves may be remembered by there family and friends, Internet and virtual maybe but everyone agrees it would be a much nicer tribute than in a cold column of the local newspaper, we plan to open our virtual gardens within the next couple of weeks and they will be tended by our own Maggie Rose, If you would like to plant a rose in the garden please mail us at: Winter Rose Details will be available on the site very soon.

NOTE.

Although the Winter Rose is primarily a cancer site we have had many emails from people who have had sad losses which were not due to cancer but would still like a memorial in our gardens, We do not wish to come over as some kind of exclusive club so we are happy to welcome all to use the gardens, If you would like a memorial rose planting please

FAITH HOPE AND DETERMINATION

I know many people who have survived cancer also, one thing I noticed is that they all have one thing in common, they have the will to live and to fight, you can win this battle but you must take with you the three things mentioned in the heading above, to loose them is to loose hope and where there is no hope there can never be life, There are many thousands of people who do survive cancer every year and we would like to include some of their stories in the hope we can encourage others who may be going through this ordeal at the present time, If you have a story you would like us to include please contact us at: Winter Rose