The St. Joseph’s Hospice Light up a Life service and Christmas light switch-on will take place this Sunday 9th December at 4pm.

Families will gather together in the hospice’s beautiful woodland gardens, on Ince Road in Thornton, to remember their loved ones and celebrate their lives.

The centrepiece of the hospice’s annual Christmas remembrance event is an impressive 25ft Christmas tree adorned with hundreds of lights, each dedicated to husbands and wife, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters and lifelong friends. Some may have passed away and others may just be a long way away.

Light up a Life is a festive celebration of lives and memories and isn’t just for those who have died at the hospice. The O’Flynn family will be coming for the first time this year. Their mum Mina, passed away back in April at home in Cork.

Siobhan, one of Mina’s seven children, said: “My mum was born in Derry but my parents moved to Liverpool fifty years ago when we were all very young. My parents then retired back to Ireland twenty six years ago. Mum would have turned ninety in September and so we wanted to do something special to remember her and the hospice’s Light up a Life service seemed perfect. We have dedicated a light to mum too so that, when the lights are switched on, we will all be together thinking of her and celebrating so many wonderful family memories.”

Julie McAdam, senior fundraiser, said: “Light up a Life is a wonderful way to think about our family and friends at Christmas time, whether they are no longer with us or are just a long way away.

“If you or your family would like to dedicate a light to someone special on our Christmas tree, dedications can be made now by contacting our fundraising team or downloading a form from www.jospice.org.uk. Forms are also available from St. Joseph’s Hospice shops.”

If you can’t attend but would like to make a donation to St. Joseph’s Hospice, please text JOSP05 plus the amount you’d like to donate to 70070 e.g. JOSP05 £10 to donate £10.

To find out more about Light up a Life, or how you can support St. Joseph’s Hospice, please call 0151 932 6044 or email events@jospice.org.uk.