2nd and 9th December - ‘LIGHT UP A LIFE' THIS CHRISTMAS WITH ST GILES
| Published: 14th November 2007 10:35 |
This Christmas St Giles Hospice is once again inviting people from across the region to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones who are no longer with us.
The charity, which cares for local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses, is holding its popular ‘Light up a Life' services next month (Dec).
At services in Lichfield, Cannock, Burton upon Trent and Sutton Coldfield, each dedicated light on the Trees of Light will be switched on, symbolising the lives of those being remembered.
Their names will also be included in a Book of Remembrance, with those remembering a loved one sent a special card of acknowledgement.
Central to the annual events - held in Lichfield, Cannock, Sutton Coldfield and Burton-on-Trent - is a tree featuring lights symbolising the lives of those being remembered, which are switched on during the service.
Peter Holliday, Chief Executive of St Giles Hospice says says: "The loss of a loved one can be particularly poignant at Christmas time, when they are not there to share in our celebrations.
"Our ‘Light up a Life' services provide the opportunity to join together to remember and celebrate those people who are no longer with us.
"Everyone is invited to take part, no matter if their loss is recent or some time ago, and regardless of whether the person was cared for by St Giles or not."
Light up a Life services will be held as follows:
Sunday 2 December
• Coors Visitors Centre, Burton upon Trent, (Outdoor Service, 6pm)
• St Luke's Church, Cannock (Indoor Service, 6pm)
Sunday 9 December
• Lichfield Cathedral (Outdoor Service, 6pm)
• Four Oaks Methodist Church, Sutton Coldfield (Indoor Service, 6.30pm)
Refreshments will be available after all services.
Anyone wishing to submit the name of a loved one, which will be recorded in the Book of Remembrance at the event can request an application form by telephoning 01543 432538. Completed forms can be posted to the hospice site at Whittington or handed in to any St Giles Hospice Shop in an envelope clearly marked ‘Light up a Life'.
Everyone taking part is invited to make a donation to help the work for St Giles and cheques should be made payable to St Giles Hospice.
St Giles Hospice is a registered charity offering high-quality medical and nursing care for people with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as providing support for their families and carers.
Patients come from across the hospice's catchment area, which ranges from Ashby de la Zouch in the east, to Cannock and Walsall in the west - and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the north, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the south.
Care is offered at the hospice's facilities in Sutton Coldfield and Whittington between Lichfield and Tamworth, or in patients' own homes across the region.
St Giles spends over £5million every year providing its specialist services. With just a third of this funded by the Government, the registered charity relies heavily on donations and fundraising - including the proceeds from the ‘Light up a Life' ceremonies.
Light Up a Life Panel
For Angie, Luke and Jake Bryant, the Light up a Life service at Lichfield will be a particularly poignant occasion.
This Christmas will be the first the boys spend without their dad, Phil, but at the service they will have the opportunity to remember and celebrate the happy times the family had together.
Phil was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in 2004 and was cared for by St Giles Nurses at the charity's hospice in Whittington. He died in April aged just 42.
Angie (36), from Tamworth, says: "My husband was only young when he died. I perhaps naively thought it was just older people who died from cancer, but Jake was only two and Luke nine when they lost their dad.
"The round-the-clock care that the St Giles Nurses gave Phil helped him to cope with what was happening. It has also made me realise the importance of raising awareness of their work, which is funded by donations and needs the support of the local people.
"By being at the Light up a Life service, Luke, Jake and I can share our happy memories and ensure they live on."
Angie,Luke and Jake Bryant
What do you think?
You will need to sign in to post a comment to this article. if you do not have an AboutMyArea account, you can join now for free.
