Breast cancer tulip garden has become an eyesore

LETTERS

What an eyesore! Where? The breast cancer floral ribbon directly north of the rose garden at Henderson Lake.

In 1998 I offered a donation of 200 pink tulips imported from Holland to Avon Canada (one of the largest crusaders to breast cancer). This donation was only allocated to 10 cities throughout Canada.

I suggested we make a breast cancer ribbon in the park and plant the tulips.

I had a verbal agreement with the City and I requested it to be completed in time for the dragon boat races. Why? So the team of dragon boaters affiliated with breast cancer as well as the public, tourists, etc. could enjoy our new floral display in the Henderson Lake area.

The city finally completed the ribbon and the ‘Breast of Bridge breast cancer survivors, mayor Bob Tarleck, parks manager David Ellis and myself planted the first tulips and then released 50 pink balloons. Incidentally, when it was completed, it was absolutely breathtaking!

I attended the races three days in a row and was humbled to be an honorary guest at the Rose Ceremony. I received nothing but compliments and thank-yous from our own and out-oftown teams who visited the gardens and commented that they wished they had something similar in their city.

Fast forward 10 years: the dragon boats had their weekend of racing — and our ribbon was and still is deplorable!

I visited the garden recently and it looks like petunias were plunked into the ground and bought at a garage sale (10 for a dollar)! It has had minimal maintenance and shows no colour in the middle of July. The rose garden across from it is in full bloom and maintained daily.

My big question is — why has the ribbon been ignored this year?

What an embarrassment to all our breast cancer survivors.

All I am asking is let’s get the display back to the beautiful sight it once was and just maybe the 200 pink bulbs of tulips could be recovered.

Marilyn Marshman

Lethbridge