Hospice to Light up a Life online
Bray: Thames Hospice’s fundraising candlelight service for lost loved ones to take place remotely
Thames Hospice has launched its Light up a Life Christmas fundraising appeal to help provide urgent support for more families facing their first Christmas without loved ones.
The Light up a Life candlelit service would normally be held at the hospice with more than 400 people in attendance but, in light of current restrictions, this will now be streamed online from the hospice’s new Bray Lake site on Sunday, December 13 at 4pm.
As many elements as possible are remaining the same – the Christmas tree lights will still be lit by a child who has lost their parents this year.
Though the usual practice of writing a dedication and hanging it on the hospice tree will not be possible, dedication cards are being sent to those that want them, along with a candle to light, as part of its ‘service at home’ pack, available to request online.
The dedication card can either be posted to the hospice to display there, or displayed at home.
There will be musical performances from the Queen’s Six, Tamesis choir and Windsor Boys and Girls
School, and the opportunity to join in with Christmas carols.
Nine different community leaders representing different belief systems will be reading messages, and there will be poems – some famous, read by some of the charity’s celebrity supporters, and others more intimate, such as those written by the hospice nurses.
Simon Smith, head of patient and family support at Thames Hospice, said: “This is a way of showing solidarity for those who’ve gone through hard times in recent years.
“Everyone’s been affected by COVID-19 and we want to reach out beyond the hospice community. The impact has been huge and devastating.
“We’ve all experienced loss of some kind or another – here’s a way we can definitively say: ‘We’re all in this together’.”
Sonia Binge, specialist social worker for children and families at Thames Hospice, said: “Over these past few months, my team and I have seen the people we care for on the screen, which has been incredibly difficult, when there is such a need to be close by to hold a hand, or offer a hug.
“Many young children have not only lost a parent, but also experienced anxiety and uncertainty as a result of the pandemic.”
Mayor of the Royal Borough, Cllr Sayonara Luxton (Con, Sunningdale and Cheapside)
said: “Thames Hospice needs its community now more than ever, as we need their care more than ever. Please donate what you can to help the hospice continue to give light in
darkness, providing care and dignity to families in need this Christmas.”
To donate, order a service pack or watch the service, visit tinyurl.com/y69wvd6n