LOVED ones will be remembered in Wyre Forest this festive season with a personal message on KEMP Hospice's virtual Light Up a Life Christmas tree.
The Kidderminster hospice is once again inviting the Wyre Forest community to join in with its annual Light Up a Life celebrations and dedicate a light in remembrance of family and friends.
The annual appeal gives people the opportunity to come together to celebrate and remember their loved ones by making a donation to KEMP and writing messages of remembrance or recalling a special memory and attending a special celebration service.
This year, however, the charity has had to rethink how to host its festive events in line with government guidelines, so has created a virtual Light Up a Life tree on its website where loved ones’ names can be dedicated as part of the appeal.
KEMP has also prepared a virtual celebration for supporters to gather online with other people from across the Wyre Forest on Sunday, December 13.
Charlie Homer, KEMP Hospice’s head of fundraising and communications, said: “For so many, Christmas is the time we spend with our nearest and dearest, and be thankful for what we have, but for those who have lost loved ones, it can be when we miss them the most. It can be very hard and lonely.
“This year has already been challenging for everyone in our community, and with restrictions on groups meeting likely to continue, we know it is so important to offer a way for people to celebrate the lives of those they miss with others.
"We know it isn’t the same, however we hope that connecting online will bring some comfort to those who find Christmas a difficult time.”
Every year, KEMP Hospice provides care and support for more than 1,000 patients, carers and families living in the Wyre Forest area.
Donations to KEMP’s Light up a Life appeal mean the hospice can continue to support those experiencing life-limiting illnesses and offer bereavement counselling to families.
The Swan Centre, Kidderminster, has erected a Christmas tree again this year for those who would like to place their dedication tag on the tree while taking a quiet moment of reflection in memory of their loved ones.
For more information about the appeal or to dedicate light in memory of a loved one, go to kemphospice.org.uk/lual or call the KEMP fundraising team on 01562 756 066.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here