Mower County chapter volunteers for the American Cancer Society are flooding the area with bright yellow daffodils this week.

More than 27,000 daffodils will be circulated throughout Mower County in the 21st annual Daffodil Days promotion.

It's a fund-raiser for the Mower County ACS and cancer research as well as an education and awareness effort on behalf of cancer victims and survivors.

The project began Monday when the flowers arrived at Johnson Floral in Austin. Now, more than 30 businesses in Mower County are selling the flowers as well as Mower County ACS volunteers.

Jack Dunlop is one of the ACS volunteers.

"This week we hope to increase last year's sales," Dunlop said

Coming each year just before the start of spring (today March 20), the Daffodil Days project is highly anticipated, Dunlop said.

"By now, we have people asking us when we will be selling daffodils each March," he said. "I think the project increases in interest each year."

The daffodils sell for $7 a 10-flower bunch. Many people buy more than one bunch to decorate their homes and offices.

More than 50 ACS volunteers participate in the project and Dunlop said, "We appreciate everybody's assistance and support."

Cancer seems to touch every one and that, in part, spurs the volunteers to do their best to raise funds for cancer research efforts.

"All of us know people who have cancer or who are cancer survivors," Dunlop said. "Buying daffodils shows how much we support them, plus the research that is continuing on their behalf."

Two other Mower County ACS volunteers, Eileen Tapager-Dietrich and Ruth Harris remind all: pre-orders helped, but ACS volunteers are selling daffodils on city streets to generate awareness and raise money for the charity.

Daffodil Days ends Saturday.

For more information

about Daffodil Days or to help support the Mower County ACS fund-raiser, call Dunlop at 433-7963.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com