St. Margaret's Light up a Life Appeal
| Author: John Boles | Published: 21st November 2008 15:59 |
St. Margaret's Light up a Life Appeal
Once again St. Margaret's Somerset Hospice has launched their annual Light up a Life appeal. The appeal offers local people an opportunity to celebrate special individuals whose lights they will miss when family and friends come together during the Christmas season. Dedicating a light also has the practical reality of helping the life enhancing work of St. Margaret's.
As part of the appeal there are numerous services in parishes throughout the county. These ecumenical services are organised with the co-operation of local clergy, parishioners and in some cases, local school children.
Last year, local people donated £32,000 to the Light up a Life Appeal and many requested that the name of their loved one was recorded in the Books of Remembrance which are kept at the hospices in Taunton and Yeovil. The appeal contributes to the £6.5million revenue required annually by St Margaret's
The daughter of a St. Margaret's patient recently likened her experience of St. Margaret's to "falling into a feather bed". When there are concerns about health, practical everyday living with a terminal illness and anxiety about the future, the staff at St. Margaret's can help lighten the load, bringing calm and reassurance.
"Christmas is a time when you notice when someone is not there. Thinking about someone is very personal, but joining together and celebrating with others, who are also missing someone is very comforting, In addition, it is nice to know that dedicating a light has a practical outcome to the special care that the nurses, doctors and other professionals at St Margaret's provide on a daily basis that brings light and hope to so many families who are living with a life-limiting illness" explains the wife of a former St Margaret's patient who attends the services every year.
This year, as an expression of their support for the appeal and the region, Milsted Langdon, Chartered Accountants, have sponsored the event. Jonathan Langdon commented, "We are delighted to be able to assist such a worthy cause."
Light up a Life and Candlemas services are being held across the region. These services are free, simple and reflective. Many offer welcome mince pies and drinks afterwards and an opportunity to meet with other guests and St. Margaret's staff. If you would like to make a donation and dedicate a ‘light' simply pick up a leaflet at your local Hospice shop or ring 0845 3459671. Alternatively, visit the St. Margaret's website http://www.somerset-hospice.org.uk/.
Local services are being held at:
- Tuesday 25 November - 7.00pm at St. Mary's RC Church in Glastonbury
- Sunday 30 November - 6.30pm at St. John's Church in Yeovil
- Tuesday 2 December - 6.30pm at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Taunton
- Wednesday 3 December - 7.00pm at United Reformed Church in Street
- Thursday 4 December - 7.00pm at All Saint's Church in Langport
- Sunday 7 December - 6.30pm at St. Mary's Church in Bridgwater
- Wednesday 10 December - 7.00pm at St. Joseph and St. Teresa in Wells
- Wednesday 10 December - 6.30pm at St. Andrew's Parish in Minehead
- Wednesday 10 December - 6.30pm at St. Andrew's Church in Burnham-on-Sea
- Sunday 14 December - 3.00pm at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Ditcheat
- Sunday 1 February - 6.00pm at St. Bartholomew's Church in Crewkerne
- Sunday 8 February - 3.00pm at St. Mary's Church in Chard
ENDS
Editors Notes:
For further information please contact Sue Medlicott on 01935 709485 or 07971663305
- St Margaret's Somerset Hospice provide specialist care at our Hospices in Taunton and Yeovil for people living with an incurable illness
- We seek to improve the quality of life for those people by bringing relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
- We help enable patients to live as actively as possible and enable the family to cope throughout the patient's illness
- We provide Day Care facilities at both Hospices and Information and Support centres at Williton Community Hospital and the West Mendip Hospital, Glastonbury.
- Our services also include physiotherapy, Lymphoedema therapy, chaplaincy, complementary and diversional therapy. We have a lymphoedema clinic at the Memorial Hospital, Burnham-on-Sea
- Our Community Palliative Care Nurse Specialists visit patients at home, in care homes and in community hospitals
- The cost of running St Margaret's Hospice and services is currently £6 5 million a year -19% is funded by the NHS the remainder is generated through fundraising
- Somerset Cancer Care is a division of St. Margaret's Somerset Hospice. CAFÉ's, (Cancer Aid for Everyone) are open in Minehead, Taunton, Wells, Weston-super-Mare and Yeovil. The CAFÉ's offer an informal opportunity, for anyone affected by cancer, to offer each other support in a warm and friendly environment.
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