How Willow Wood's Light Up A Life will take place this year

Willow Wood Hospice's Light Up A Life dedication services in Tameside and Glossop will be very different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The hospice usually holds two services in early December, one in Norfolk Square, Glossop and one in the Albion Church, Ashton.  

Both of these are a celebration of the lives of our loved ones and, although very emotional, can be a huge comfort.

Choirs, brass bands and the singing of Christmas carols all help make Light Up A Life an essential part of the festive season for many.

Willow Wood’s chaplain Eddy Inglis said: “This year we will not be able to gather together to share our sorrows and our joy.

“This year I will not be able to stand in front of you and hope my words bring you some solace.  

“However, during the current situation I do feel it is more important than ever before to reach out to each other and so we are working to produce a Light Up A Life video service which everyone can access. 

“This will be available on our social media and our website, and will still contain readings, prayers and Christmas carols. You will be able to watch this whenever you feel in need of comfort.

“Our Book of Memories will also be online so that you can view your dedications at any time.”

In addition, Willow Wood are producing metal ‘Memory Stars’ as a symbol of enduring love.  

IN THEIR MEMORY: The 50cm high Metal Memory Stars will be placed in a ‘Memory Garden’.

These have space for a handwritten message within the stem and a small photo can be placed at the heart of the star.  

The Hospice’s volunteer gardeners are currently hard at work creating a special and very tranquil space for this Memory Garden where the stars will be placed until the end of the festive season. They can then be taken home as a permanent memento to be treasured.

Full details of how you can remember your loved ones with Light Up A Life are available on www.willowwood.info, or contact the fundraising office on 0161 330 7788 or fundraising@willowwood.info to have a dedication form sent to you.  

Eddy said: “You can take part whether or not you have any prior association with the hospice.  

“Your donation in their name is truly a gift of love; what better way is there than to honour their memory than by helping us care for our patients and their loved ones?”

Main image:

REMEMBER TOGETHER: Chaplain Eddy Inglis with fundraiser Elaine McConnell and the Book of Memories.