2025 was the fifteenth year of The Big Sunflower Project. It was from my perspective a strange year as I broke my wrist at the end of March. As someone who uses their arms to compensate when their legs won’t work this was a problematic situation to find myself in.
I spent five weeks in plaster and a week in a splint. This was followed by physiotherapy sessions because immobilisation causes muscle weakness and joint stiffness — physiotherapy helps to counteract this damage and ensure a return to function, strength, and mobility. Then at the end of all that I received an osteoporosis diagnosis which explained the break but isn’t great for someone who has a tendency to fall, as the risk of breaking something is increased.
Much of my year has been focussed on getting better and making changes around my home to try and limit the opportunities for falling and breaking something else. I did however manage to grow some sunflowers and I was happy that other people once again grew sunflowers with me to raise awareness of centronuclear and myotubular myopathy. And the weather this year I am sure we can all agree was amazing, perfect weather for growing sunflowers, which is not something I get to say often.
Share your photos
If you grew sunflowers this summer but have not yet sent photos it is not too late. Photos can be sent by email or shared on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn using #TheBigSunflowerProject.
Share a story
If you have grown sunflowers with the project this year and would be willing to share your story, please get in touch. Stories help the project raise awareness of centronuclear and myotubular myopathy and evidence the impact of the project. You can read stories from previous projects below.
Harvesting sunflower seeds
After a sunflower has flowered, its seeds can be harvested for planting again the following year. A single seed planted in the spring can produce many seeds in the autumn and these can be extracted from the seed head once a sunflower has dried out.
If you have sunflowers that are now past their best, you can save the seeds for growing next summer or as food for wildlife over the winter. Firstly chop off the flower head and brush away the pollen, under which you will find your sunflower seeds, then leave the flower head to dry. You can learn more about harvesting sunflower seeds on the project website.
Although the project is now at end for this year in the UK, if you are in a part of the world that is about to get its summer, please consider buying a packet of seeds and growing a sunflower to raise awareness of centronuclear and myotubular myopathy.
And to everyone who has taken part in the project this year, a massive thank you. I look forward to growing sunflowers with you again in 2026, hopefully next year I will do it with all my bones intact.
Further information
Further information about the project can be found on here on the project website and on the project social media pages.
The Big Sunflower Project 
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