Hyacinth growers take action for young cancer patients

4500 bunches of hyacinths have been prepared in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands, and will be sold in eleven academic hospitals. A cart of hyacinths was auctioned as well. The proceeds from this cart were € 3,355.00 and the biggest buyer was C. Leeuwenburg BV. The entire proceeds will go to AYA, the platform for young cancer patients.

Left to right: Rob van Haaster (Van Haaster Vijfhuizen), Mike Heemskerk (CA van Paridon), Paul Verkleij (Hobaho), Jan Heemskerk (Maatschap Heemskerk Meskers) and John van der Slot (J. & W. van der Slot) are preparing 4.500 bunches of hyacinths for shipment for the National HAYAcintenactie. (photo: Bloembollen Visie)

The hyacinths were collected by the collective of Dutch hyacinth growers. Bloembollen Visie reported earlier that the hyacinths were readied for shipment at Van Haaster Vijfhuizen by some of the growers on Wednesday, January 11. Twinpack sponsored the boxes and Van der Slot Transportation took care of the logistics.

Auctioning the cart, this morning in Rijnsburg (photo by Gerard Gardien, Projectleader Market and Product at Royal FloraHolland)

HAYAcintenactie: auctioning and selling
It is the third consecutive year that the National HAYAcintenactie is organized.
Last year, the cart proceeds were two thousand euros - a large amount, but not as large as this year's. The other bunches go to eleven academic hospitals in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Tilburg, Den Bosch, Nijmegen, Groningen, Maastricht, Leiden, Alkmaar and Den Helder. Volunteers from AYA, patients themselves and growers (or their wives) will sell the hyacinths there.

Revenue from 2016 was 16.000 euro
All proceeds go to AYA (Adolescents & Young Adults), a network for young adults between 18 and 35 who have cancer. Last year they were handed a check for 16.000 euros. In exchange for that, the hyacinths get a lot of national media attention.

Source: BloembollenVisie