Hospice launches its annual campaign to Light up a Life in memory of loved ones...

LOCAL charity City Hospice has launched its Light Up A Life campaign with new digital fundraising features.

In line with ongoing social distancing measures and the postponement of traditional public fundraising events, supporters are being encouraged to participate in virtual fundraising efforts and personal challenges.

City Hospice has introduced digital features to allow supporters to take part in the campaign safely, including a Virtual Star in the Sky on its website.

The feature allows people to donate and leave a message of remembrance on a virtual star in the sky in memory of their loved ones. The charity’s Light Up A Life campaign, which runs from October 1 to December 31, remembers and celebrates the lives of loved ones.

Supporters can also donate during the campaign period to the charity’s Recovery Fund which contributes towards the running of the hospice and its work.

Donations made to the Light Up A Life campaign during the three-month period will go twice as far, thanks to match-funding by The Hodge Foundation which is supporting the campaign once again. With the Foundation’s match-funding commitment, last year’s campaign raised an incredible £222,000 for the hospice.

City Hospice needs to raise £2m a year to provide the level of care it offers. As Cardiff’s local hospice, the charity provides home-based specialist palliative care to 550 patients at any one time. City Hospice provides nursing and essential care to people throughout the capital who are living with lifelimiting and terminal illness, such as cancer, dementia, motor neurone disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The charity also offers counselling and support services for the families of their patients and has recently extended its bereavement counselling services to families in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bridgend.

Liz Andrews, chief executive of City Hospice, said: “We’re excited to launch this year’s Light Up A Life campaign. While our events have been postponed this year, fundraising has never been so important and we are grateful to our supporters who have embraced innovative, virtual fundraising ideas to help us continue to provide care to patients and their families in the community.

“We are delighted to introduce the Virtual Star in the Sky feature this year, offering our supporters the ability to take part in Light Up A Life and remember their loved ones in a safe way.”

Karen Hodge, a trustee of The Hodge Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to be able to support City Hospice’s campaign again this year. We hope our match funding challenge will encourage people to fundraise and donate to this fantastic charity to enable them to continue their incredible work.”

A donation made during the Light Up A Life campaign will make a world of difference to a family facing terminal illness in the community.

To donate visit www.cityhospice.org. uk or call 029 2052 4150.