LOST loved ones will be remembered with a candle burning in their memory during an annual remembrance campaign.
The Lights of Love initiative, run by St Richard’s Hospice, gets underway later this month, allowing those who have lost a loved one to dedicate a light that will shine on the hospice’s Christmas Tree in St Andrew’s Spire, Deansway, Worcester, for a donation of their choice. There will be several moving Lights of Love services held in the run-up to Christmas, with everyone invited to attend, not just those connected with St Richard’s Hospice. St Richard’s Hospice senior community fund-raiser, Alison Parkes, said the services were a moving tribute.
“The lighting of the tree is a lovely event. Last year lights were dedicated to more than 2,500 names and the tree looked magnificent,” she said.
“With such great support we raised more than £30,000 towards the work of the hospice – a fantastic sum.
“These services are deeply appreciated by the hundreds of people there – many of whom are the families and friends of people who are, or who have been, cared for by St Richard’s.”
The campaign starts with Lights of Love services at Worcester Cathedral on Friday, November 15, through the afternoon and evening, including the presence of a sign-language interpreter at the evening session.
After the evening service, there will be a candlelit procession to the Christmas tree, in nearby St Andrew’s spire, for the switching-on of the dedicated lights.
The other services will take place at the Sacred Heart Church, Droitwich, and the Priory, Malvern. The names of loved ones will be displayed on boards surrounding the tree in St Andrew’s Spire and in a book of thanksgiving placed in Worcester Cathedral, the Priory in Malvern and Droitwich library, throughout December.
Those who donate will also receive a special photo decoration that can be hung on their Christmas trees at home. For those that wish, names of those lost will be printed in the Worcester News on Monday, December 23. To make a dedication online, visit strichards. org. uk/lightsoflove.
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