Daffodil Day T-shirt a 'symbol of hope' for those affected by cancer

Cancer Society Hawke's Bay Health Promoter Jess Trew (left); Administrator Justine Fletcher, central districts Business Services Manager Chris Franklin, and Volunteers Coordinator, Pip Taylor with the new season T-shirts. Photo / Warren Buckland

It was somewhat of a coincidence that artist Jenifer Clayton's work would make its way on to a T-shirt designed to raise funds for the Cancer Society.

Simply put, it was never meant to. But now, she says, it feels as if it was always meant to be - a tribute to the woman who shaped who she is today, and a message of hope for the many others who have been and are affected by the terrible disease.

The bright yellow daffodil stands out among myriad black and white flowers which form the shape of New Zealand. It gently sits over Hawke's Bay, which happens to fall on the wearer's heart.

Clayton, who is originally from Palmerston North, now lives on the Gold Coast, Australia with her husband Gerome and two young sons.

Her mother Lalita Gilbert was diagnosed with cancer in late 2013.

"A little under two years and she was gone."

Prior to the diagnosis, Clayton says they never thought it was something they would have to deal with. "But it did," she says, in amongst tears. "It was a huge shock."

Clayton, the fourth of six children, was very close to her mum. She was living away from home and had just become engaged when Gilbert fell ill.

"She worked from when we were kids, so she was always working and then I get a call saying mum's in hospital and I was like 'what the heck, she's never sick'. It was really strange for her to be in hospital," she said.

"They said that her stomach had ballooned out to make her look like she was like six months pregnant and it was all this fluid and all that going on.

She moved back home to be closer to her mum.

"It was a really hard time. I got married really quickly because we didn't want to leave it, just in case our mum didn't make it. And I just remember the wedding day, she was so sick," the 26-year-old said.

"It all happened very quickly. She did chemotherapy, she had surgeries to take out her ovaries, and then we were told they weren't 100 per cent sure if it was cervical cancer or stomach cancer because it had spread so fast."

Lalita only got to see two of her now five grandchildren. Clayton's first-born was only 3 months old.

Prior to her passing, she encouraged her family to get checked. "I think we are definitely more aware of it now," she said.

"You never go to doctors because you just think, you're fine, you're not sick. But now, we always get checkups."

Her sister recently did Dry July' to help raise funds for cancer research. And when she was asked, she immediately said yes. "I was like 'yes I will do it, I will do it' because I really want to be a part of that."

Her mother, who was very creative herself, always encouraged Clayton to continue with art.

"I've always been really inspired and motivated to keep going with my art and make her proud."

She had originally created the design in colour, and without the daffodil for a customer, before the Cancer Society approached her with some amendments - the positioning of the daffodil, and the colour.

"A lot of floral inspiration comes from my mother. I do get inspiration from her but also New Zealand.

Now in its 28th year, Daffodil Day will be held on Friday, August 30, and represents hope for the one in three New Zealanders affected by cancer each year.

For the past five years, Cancer Society Hawke's Bay has sold a specially designed T-shirt which is something unique to the region. It is part of a number of different fundraising avenues the charity uses throughout August.

The society receives no Government funding and relies on donations and fundraisers, so it can continue to support those affected by cancer.

To contact the Cancer Society, visit: www.daffodilday.or.nz and click on the Central Districts link or phone 876 7638. To see more of Jenifer Clayton's designs, visit: https://worksbyjc.com/