Light Up a Life Hospice service goes online with a focus on loss
ABRISTOL hospice has been forced to move its annual remembrance service online because of the pandemic.
Each year St Peter’s Hospice holds its Light Up A Life event, with services at the hospice at Brentry, Bristol Cathedral and the Salvation Army base in Staple Hill.
Normally the combined services attract audiences of around 700 people wanting to remember their loved ones at Christmas.
But this year, because of coronavirus regulations, the service has moved online and will now take place on Saturday at 5pm.
The service will be streamed online, giving people the chance to join together virtually to remember those they have lost and celebrate their lives.
The service will be led by the hospice’s multi-faith team leader Ralph Di Somma and feature readings, poetry and performances by musician Loulita Gill.
This year’s service will focus on loss, something keenly felt by many during what has been a difficult year.
Hospice community fundraiser Sophie Cullinane said: “This year has been extraordinary, which has meant we’ve had to do things very differently.
“Our remembrance service will be virtual this year which allows everyone to watch from the comfort of their own home.”
People can still dedicate a name to the Book of Remembrance to commemorate a loved one, as done in previous years.
This too will be featured online and in the future, when guidelines allow, will be placed at the hospice to view.
Mr Di Somma said: “Light up a Life is our annual remembrance service and is an opportunity for us as a community to come together and take time out to reflect on ou lost loved ones and also this year to reflect on what we have gone through as a community and a city.
“Everyone has experienced loss in some shape or form in 2020.”
People who want to sign up for the service need to register before 1pm tomorrow.
Find out more and sign up at stpetershospice.org/lightupalife .
Those wanting to support the hospice in its ongoing work can also make a donation if they wish.
The service comes in what has been a difficult year for the charity.
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the hospice is facing a £2 million gap in its finances.
For the first time in its history, the charity has had to reduce the number of beds at its inpatient unit at Brentry from 15 to 10 and make staff redundant.
It has also launched the When It Matters Most campaign, backed by the Post, in a bid to try to plug its funding gap and recoup some of its losses.
Sophie added: “To support the hospice and celebrate the memories of our loved ones this Christmas we are inviting people to join us on December 12.
“Without the generosity of our supporters we simply couldn’t do what we do.”
To make a donation to the When It Matters Most campaign go to https://www.stpetershospice.org/