Colourful book of photographs helps raise money for charity

Sue Varian’s love of photography has led her to creating an amazing, colourful book which has helped to raise money for charity as well as supporting the elderly.

The 50-page publication, entitled “A New Dawn” came from a series of photos she took during lockdown through 2020 and 2021.

It was during that time that she took shots with her camera on her daily walks near her home with her beloved dog Jasper.

Sue, who lives in Withersfield, launched a Crowdfunding appeal to raise the money for printing and marketing costs and was able to produce 500 copies of the book.

Initially she delivered over 200 books, which contain more than 100 images, across Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to care homes and hospices and now she has helped to raise £400 for the My WiSH Charity, which serves the patients of the West Suffolk Hospital, Newmarket Community Hospital and community services in Suffolk, along with a further £400 each to the Newmarket Day Centre and the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.

Sue said while taking her walks during the Covid pandemic she realised how fortunate she was while so many people, especially the elderly, were confined and isolated in their homes and care homes.

And the book is dedicated to the NHS, carers, those who have lost loved ones due to Covid and those who have been isolated.

She said: “During lockdown the weather was fantastic and every day on my walks I took photos.

“I realised how lucky I was to walk in the countryside when others were not able to, so I thought of doing this book and getting it out to care homes.”

TV personality Clare Balding has written a foreword in the book and it is now being sold to help raise money for Ukrainian refugees.

The 72-year-old added: “I just love nature and art and seeing the beauty of nature close up and I have always had such a very keen eye for pictures.”

Sally Daniels, fundraising officer, said “Sue’s book is a beautiful display of the beauty around us in Suffolk. We have used the money to purchase DVD players so patients can enjoy watching their favourite movies. Supporting local means we could show Sue what she’s bought and how her donation is already making a difference”.

You can see details of Sue’s book by going to the website www.cardsinbloom.co.uk/anewdawn-thebook where there is a link to a slideshow of the images.

Main photo: Sue Varian.