Light Up A Life takes a different form for 2010
Light Up A Life is one of the most valued events at Keech Hospice Care for many families. It is the Christmas celebration to remember their loved ones. Traditionally, this takes place in early December at the Hospice but this year, due to the building works, this very special event will take a different form, reaching out to more families than ever before.
“We appreciate how important Light Up A Life is to our bereaved families and to all our staff and volunteers,” said Keech Hospice Care's Deputy Chief Executive, Mike Keel. “So once the grant was agreed and we knew building work would be going ahead, we conducted a consultation with our staff and volunteers to get their views on what should happen.
“We had lots of fantastic ideas and have agreed on two special ways to celebrate Light Up A Life this year. We recognise how important it is for bereaved families to come up to the hospice and so, as we’ve done in previous years, we will light up a tree at the hospice as a focus for people’s memories.
However this year, because we cannot safely accommodate large numbers of visitors to the site, our nurses, doctors and other hospice staff will have a small, private tree-lighting ceremony on 15 November. This event will be the start of our season of remembrance. From 16 November and until Twelfth Night (6 January 2011) the lights will remain lit, anyone who has lost a loved one at the Hospice, can come and view the lights on the tree and make a personal dedication or tribute to their loved one. There is no restriction as to when they can come and we feel this is a special way for people to have some personal, quiet time to think about their loved ones at the hospice.”
The second event to mark Light Up A Life will reflect Keech Hospice Care’s philosophy to reach and care for all members of the community across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes. This event recognises people’s needs to gather with others to celebrate a life. We are therefore delighted that Keech Hospice Care’s own Pasque Harmony Choir has offered to host a colourful, musical celebration on 11th December at High Town Methodist Church Hall, High Town, Luton.
“This wonderful multi-faith celebration will be open to all bereaved families within the community and to all our staff and volunteers,” said Keech Hospice Care's Deputy Chief Executive, Mike Keel. “We are expecting this to be well supported, so it will be a ticketed event and we’ll be releasing details about this very soon. I hope everyone who comes will be able to share their feelings in a joyful celebration of the lives of loved ones they have lost by lighting a candle during the evening. There will also be a chance to stock up on last minute wrapping paper, Christmas cards and presents from our shop stalls at the venue.
“I hope families and supporters will feel that we have managed to put together some appropriate and wonderful alternative events for this year’s Light Up A Life ceremony. I am sure our families will understand that that the work at the hospice is essential to enable us to help improve our facilities for patients and their families yet to come to us. I hope they will celebrate with us at Keech Hospice Care.”
Date published 16 September 2010
