Light dedications to remember loved ones this Christmas
6 November 2017
Barnsley Hospice is encouraging people to remember loved ones this December during its annual Light up a Life appeal.
One christmas tree at the hospice in Gawber and four at St. Mary’s Church in the town centre will shine with hundreds of lights from next month. Each one will be dedicated to someone special, in exchange for a donation towards patient care.
The trees will be illuminated during a church service on Sunday 3rd December at 3.30pm and 7pm, and at a non-religious service in the hospice grounds at 7pm on Thursday 7th December.
The name of each person remembered will be recorded in a special ‘Book of Blessings’, which will be on display at the church and the hospice over the festive period. The lights will shine until the twelfth night of Christmas, Friday 5th January.
Zoe Dransfield, family support worker at Barnsley Hospice, said: “Light up a Life is a poignant and beautiful way to honour and celebrate the life of a loved one. The festive season can be a difficult time for those who’s loved ones have died, and for a lot of families, dedicating a light and watching it shine can bring real comfort.”
The hospice has invited dedications for Light up a Life for over 17 years. Lights can be dedicated to anyone, not only those who received hospice care.
Julie Ferry, chief executive of Barnsley Hospice, added: “The hospice receives £1.6m from the NHS each year, but we still have to raise over £2m ourselves in order to keep caring for people in Barnsley. The Light up a Life event is extra special because, importantly, it’s about more than raising money. It’s about remembering family and friends at Christmas, and celebrating the lives of loved ones.”
To find out more about dedicating a light, visit www.barnsleyhospice.org or call 01226 244 244.
Barnsley Hospice is based in Gawber and provides specialist care for anyone in Barnsley with a life-limiting illness, including cancer, motor neurone disease and heart disease. It has ten beds for inpatient care and provides day care at the on-site Limes Support and Therapy Centre.
Notes to editor
Attached photographs show Zoe Dransfield, family support worker at Barnsley Hospice, and last year’s Light up a Life service.
Barnsley Hospice is based on Church Street, S75 2RL. It has been providing care for people in Barnsley with life limiting illnesses, and their families, since 1994.
For more information about Barnsley Hospice go to www.barnsleyhospice.org or call 01226 244244.
Media contact: Mary Ferguson at Capital B Media on 01226 766900 or at mary@capitalbmedia.co.uk
This press release was prepared by Capital B Media, a public relations and media training agency based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. For more information, please visit www.capitalbmedia.co.uk.
