Crown Princess Mary rose helps heart research
A newly developed Australian rose named in honour of the Crown Princess Mary has been launched in Hobart by the Heart Foundation.
At the request of Crown Princess Mary, a royalty of $1 from the sale of
each rose plant will be donated to the Heart Foundation over the next 20 years to fund lifesaving research, prevention and education programs to fight cardiovascular disease in Australia.
Princess Mary lost her mother to heart disease in 1997 at just 56 years
of age.
Heart disease is responsible for almost one in five female deaths
and is the leading cause of death in Australian women. In 2004, 11,424
Australian women died of heart disease, which represents an average of 31 women each day.
The Crown Princess Mary rose, developed by Ross Roses in South
Australia, features ivory-white blooms tinged with pink and honey tones.
The blooms open in a ruffle and have a delicate rose scent. Long,
strong stems make them useful for floral decoration and the rose is
resistant to disease.