5 Dec 2016 Community

Hundreds remember loved ones at Kirkwood Hospice’s Light up a Life Event

Around 1,000 guests attended two special Light up a Life ceremonies held at Kirkwood Hospice over the weekend - celebrating the lives of loved ones at this special time of year.

Family and friends from across Kirklees came to remember and reflect on the lives of those closest to them who could not be with them this Christmas.

Attendees dedicated a light to their loved one as the beautiful beech tree in the Hospice gardens was illuminated in their honour. The lights on the Tree of Lights will continue to shine bright throughout December as a special tribute to those being remembered.

The Tree of Lights in the Hospice gardens

It’s a special time of year for the Hospice, which cares for people across Kirklees with life-limiting illnesses. Light up a Life provides an opportunity to bring the community together for a very special celebration of life and to share memories together.

Michael Crowther, Chief Executive of Kirkwood Hospice, opened the ceremony and thanked the hundreds of attendees for supporting the event.

He said: “Light up a Life is an important event for Kirkwood. It’s about our role in the community as a Hospice. We’ve all come together to remember someone special but we’ve also come together as a community. Kirkwood Hospice couldn’t exist and continue to provide its services without the love and compassion of the local community.

"Kirkwood Hospice couldn’t exist and continue to provide its services without the love and compassion of the local community." Michael Crowther

“During the ceremony, we light the lights on the tree. These lights are symbolic for a couple of reasons. One, for the people we’re here to remember and two, for the links we share with each other.”

Local community come together for the Light up a Life ceremonies

The services also saw touching poetry, music and Spiritual Readings, delivered by Spiritual Care Co-ordinator Jonathan Sharp, Staff Nurse Anna Wilkinson and Hospice Sister Elaine Gill.

Jonathan Sharp, recognised what a special time of year this can be and was touched to see so many people at Kirkwood remembering their loved ones.

“It’s an incredibly moving event.” he said. “Light up a Life is symbolic of what Kirkwood Hospice is about.

“It’s about bringing some light and some warmth into what can be a dark time. It’s a moving occasion for the people gathered to remember, but also for us as staff. It reminds us what it’s all about and why we’re here.”

Dave Everett, from Gomersal, has volunteered for the Hospice for over 9 years and visited the event for the first time this year.

He says: “Light up a Light really does represent what I know of Kirkwood.

“It’s a great feeling working here, and that feeling just flows out. It’s just like one big family at Kirkwood.”

"It’s just like one big family at Kirkwood." Dave Everett

Guests had the chance to view the Book of Lights, a book featuring the names of all those being remembered this year. The Book of Lights will be updated in January and available to view at the Hospice throughout the New Year.

For those unable to attend last weekend’s events, an indoor service will be held next Saturday, 10th December at the Longcauseway Church in Dewsbury at 12 noon. This event is free and open to anyone.

If you would like to make a dedication to a loved one, there’s still time to do so. Please click here or contact event organiser, Wasim Hussain on: 01484 557911.