A couple from Harrogate have grown a giant pumpkin and are launching a competition to fundraise for St Michael's Hospice.
A couple from Harrogate have grown a giant pumpkin and are launching a competition to fundraise for St Michael's Hospice. Ian and Natalie Hutton lost their close friend Stephen to cancer but were grateful to St Michael's for the end of life care he received. And in a tribute to him and to fundraise for the charity, the couple decided to grow a large pumpkin and ask for donations in return for guessing its weight. Ian Hutton told Your Harrogate:
Ian's pumpkin obsession has grown over the years. And ahead of Halloween, he ordered more pumpkin seeds online with the goal of growing a large pumpkin. Talking about the difficult process in maintaining a large one, Ian said:"We got an allotment after one of our friends sadly passed away with cancer.
"He was a chef, so we got the inspiration of growing our own veg and being a bit more self-sufficient.
"Then someone gave us a pumpkin plant and it all started from there!"
And having decided to fundraise for St Michael's Hospice, both Ian and Natalie are hopeful people will donate £1 whilst guessing the pumpkin's weight. Ian added:"It's quite tricky to get them germinated and it's all about judging the seeds, the weight and the Great British weather.
"Its lot and lots of water, feed once a week and lots of luck. It is a bit of an art form, it’s not that easy!"
The pumpkin will be making an appearance at Wellington Inn, Darley on Sunday 24th and Monday 25th October, followed by Kendalls butcher's on Skipton Road in Harrogate on Friday 29th October. The Huttons are encouraging people to go along for the photo opportunity - and would welcome any donations to St Michael's Hospice. Nick Hancock chatted to Ian Hutton on Your Harrogate: [audio mp3="https://vouchers.yourharrogate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/pumpkin-man.mp3"][/audio] Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here."It’s a great cause and everything that’s happening with covid over the last couple of years fundraising has been hard, so it's just another way to make money for a great cause."
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