A much-loved mascot at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice has been given a new lease of life thanks to the creativity and dedication of one of the charity’s long-standing volunteers.
Starry, the bright yellow and blue star-shaped mascot who brings smiles to faces at community events, was showing signs of age and was in urgent need of repair. But when local volunteer Lynne Darlow heard the costume was falling apart, she stepped in.
“I overheard someone saying the old Starry was falling apart, and couldn’t be cleaned,” said Lynne, a retired deputy headteacher, “So I said, ‘That’s not a problem – I’ll make a new one!’”
With no formal experience in costume-making but a flair for creative projects, Lynne set about rebuilding the beloved mascot from scratch.
Read: Sue Ryder starlight hike returns to Bedford for night of remembrance and fundraising
Bedford-based company Interfoam stepped in to donate foam cut to size, and Lynne sourced bright yellow and blue fabric, added felt features, and even overcame a broken sewing machine – borrowing a replacement from Bedford’s Arts and Craft Centre.
The result is a fully washable Starry costume with a removable back secured by Velcro. By carefully dismantling and restoring the original, Lynne was also able to bring it back to life, giving the hospice not one, but two Starry costumes ready for action.
“Volunteering is about giving something back,” said Lynne. “I saw a need and thought, ‘No one else is going to do this – but I can.’ Children love high-fiving him at events, and this year’s Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Bedford just wouldn’t be the same without him.”
Roisin Duggan, community fundraiser at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, said: “We’re so grateful to Lynne for putting the sparkle back into Starry, such a popular and cherished member of the Sue Ryder team.
“And a huge thank you to Interfoam for their generosity. Support from the local community means the world to us.”
The revamped Starry will make his next appearance at the Sue Ryder Starlight Hike Bedford on Saturday, 11 October, where families will gather for a moving night of remembrance and fundraising under the stars. The event starts at 5.30pm at Everard Meadow.
To sign up, visit sueryder.org/StarlightBedford or contact the team at stjohns.events@sueryder.org or 01767 642412.
