Hundreds of twinkling lights will be lit in memory of loved ones at a range of moving hospice services this winter.
In the weeks leading to Christmas, there will be six St Richard’s Hospice Lights of Love services or events – offering the community a place to remember and celebrate the lives of their loved ones.
The first two services will be held at Worcester Cathedral on Thursday, 15th November, at 2.30pm and 7pm.
The evening service will be followed by a procession to St Andrew’s Spire where a Christmas tree will be illuminated, full of dedicated lights of love.
Services will then be held at the Sacred Heart Church, in Droitwich, on Tuesday, 20th November, Pershore Abbey on Thursday, 29th November and Great Malvern Priory on Tuesday, 4th December.
A special Carols in the Car Park event – featuring a brass band and festive sing-along – will be held on Thursday, 20th December at St Richard’s Hospice in Wildwood Drive, Worcester.
Rachel Jones, Fundraising Manager at St Richard’s, said: “These moving, community services are deeply comforting for the people who attend. Many people attending have had family or friends cared for by the hospice.
“We find each service unites people in their shared experience of missing a loved one, while providing support and solace through lighting a candle and taking time to reflect.
“Last year, nearly 3,000 names were dedicated and £46,591 was raised to help support our specialist care to people living with life-limiting illnesses, their families and bereaved people across Worcestershire. We are so grateful for the continued support of the community.”
Anyone is welcome to dedicate a light in memory of a loved one and attend a Lights of Love service if they wish – not simply those who have a connection to St Richard’s.
The dedicated names will be displayed around St Andrew’s Spire and in books of remembrance at Worcester Cathedral, Pershore Abbey, Sacred Heart Church in Droitwich and Great Malvern Priory.
All dedicated names will also be added to an online book of remembrance on a weekly basis. To view the book visit www.strichards.org.uk/lightsoflove
If requested, dedicated names will also be printed in the Worcester News on Monday, 24th December.
If you would like to make a dedication please go online to www.strichards.org.uk/lightsoflove or call the Fundraising Team on 01905 763963.
Rachel Jones of St Richard’s Hospice and Rob Champion, Fisher German
Lights of Love is kindly sponsored by Fisher German. Company Partner, Rob Champion said, “Fisher German are delighted to be supporting this hugely worthwhile campaign which will not only raise much needed funds for the hospice but will also enable anyone, from all walks of life, to remember loved ones who are no longer with us.”
He added, “The build up to Christmas is always a hectic time and the Lights of Love campaign is a chance for us to stop for a moment and reflect. The series of services promises to be thoroughly enjoyable and poignant and we hope that as many people as possible will attend and, in turn, support St Richard’s which provides such invaluable care to so many each year.”
St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative and end of life care for patients living with life-limiting illnesses and supports their loved ones. Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,300 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
The hospice strives to provide the best medical, practical, emotional and social support they can to help people live life to the fullest, as independently as they can, for as long as they can. They care for people with a range of illnesses including heart failure, Parkinson’s, and motor neurone disease as well as cancer.
St Richard’s is an independent charity and relies on donations for three quarters of its annual £8.8m income with the remainder from the NHS.
St Richard’s has launched the Build 2020 Appeal which aims to raise the final £1.4m needed to build a bigger hospice, enabling more patients and families to be cared for in Worcestershire.
The total cost for expanding and redeveloping the existing building in Wildwood Drive, Worcester, is £5.3m.