13 Dec 2023 Community

Louise Byrne raises funds for The Kirkwood with her memory tree for the second year running

Christmas is a time for goodwill and love, one Thongsbridge resident has shown both these in abundance for the second year running at this most festive of times. Louise Byrne has created a fantastic memory Christmas tree for local people to hang baubles on to remember loved ones, whilst also raising funds for a charity she loves.  

Louise's mum Jennifer died in 2018 after her fight against cancer came to an end. Louise has always been thankful to The Kirkwood for the help and support we gave her and her family at that most difficult of times.  

On remembering how The Kirkwood cared for her mum, Louise said: "My mum was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. I was living out in Australia at the time but it was a comfort to know that The Kirkwood was caring for my mum back here in England. Mum used to come to support and therapy sessions on a Friday and she loved it.  

"When we came back to England we met a number of the staff and they were all fantastic. I have a lot of respect for what The Kirkwood does and stands for."  

In 2017 a year before Jennifer died, Louise and the rest of her family made sure her mum had a wonderful last Christmas.  

She said: "The Christmas before mum died we put lots of Christmas lights out to make it a last special time for her. We used to get notes from local children saying how amazing our Christmas lights were. So since then we have put the lights out every year."  

Jennifer died in 2018 at the age of 70, after being cared for over Christmas for five weeks on our In-Patient Unit at Dalton. Louise and her family wanted to do something special for The Kirkwood and the local community again this Christmas.  

Last year Louise's idea became very popular as she raised over £1,200 for the hospice. She again put her idea into motion this year and incorporated a coffee morning at her own house to help generate more funds. Impressivly, Louise has already beaten last years total, and her fundraising efforts currently stand at £1,400. 

Louise commented on her fundraising efforts: “We are doing amazingly well this year, we did a coffee morning on the 2nd December that was to launch the memory tree and I raised £1,020 that day. Overall we have raised £1,400 this year so far.  

“I'd love to say one day that I've raised £10,000 for The Kirkwood, that's my aim and I'm determined to reach it.  

“The coffee morning was great, I had friends bake some cakes and knit some angels and other bits, it was a real fun morning. I put it in all the local Facebook groups, the community's response was amazing.  

“The best thing was that you had different parts of the community coming together to remember loved ones and raise funds for a charity we all love and respect.”  

Last year Louise hung 80 baubles on the tree, she says she's already up to 60 baubles this time around and is determined to beat that 80 figure.  

She said: “People keep messaging me saying I'll have my bauble on the tree again, I'm expecting to beat 80 which is brilliant. I do a full day of work and come home to sort the baubles for the tree. I'm at it from 5pm-11pm at night but I love it.  

“Overall I'm so pleased with how the local community has got behind it, and how successful this year has been. We have already planned to do something on Sunday 1st December 2024, I want to get planning early for next year.”  

People have until the 24th December 2023 to put a bauble on Louise's memory tree outside her house on 29 Miry Lane Thongsbridge.  

Everyone at The Kirkwood would like to thank Louise for her collection and for the brilliant idea of helping to bring the community together to remember loved ones at this special time. 

With your support, we are able to give those in our care the chance to make the very most of their last Christmas. Will you help by making a donation today? For more information and to make a donation, please click here: https://www.thekirkwood.org.uk/christmasappeal