Sunflower walk supports County girl battling health issues

Abby Terpstra strikes a yoga pose during Yoga in the Sunflowers at Sunflower Fields Ice Cream Shoppe on County Road 10. – Sue Capon photo

As yoga in the sunflowers and tours at the Sunflower Fields Ice Cream Shoppe on County Road 10 wrap up Tuesday, a second County field is opening for a few days in a bid to help a County girl battle serious health issues.

“Our fields are past peak bloom, but are still amazing to explore,” said owner Kathy McAlpine Terpstra, yoga instructor and also owner of Everfit Studios in Bloomfield. She built a yoga platform in the middle of the field to host relaxing yoga classes in the early evening, while basking in the glow of the sunflower field.

Terpstra is directing friends and customers to visit Sunnydale Farms, at 2603 County Rd. 8 in Waupoos who will be opening their fields for a few days this week to raise funds for a County girl who is battling serious health issues.

Sunnydale will be opening two of its three sunflower fields to the public Thursday, Aug. 22 (noon to 7 p.m.) through to Monday, Aug. 26 (9 a.m.-7 p.m.)

Melanie Mills is a 17-year-old County girl who walked across the PECI graduation stage this spring and right into an operating theatre. In a summer that should have been all about making memories, Melanie has had three brain surgeries instead.

Admission to the fields is by donation. Note, access to the field requires a 3km round trip walk down a dirt farm road, across a dry creek bed, and up a gradual, but long incline. Visitors are asked to respect the fields and adjoining crops. Dogs must be on a leash.