Dr Kershaw’s 2023 Light Up a Life appeal raises over £30,000!

Pictured are Light Up a Life readers from the Hospice team (left to right): Diane Atkins, Jeanette Ferguson, Jane Markham, Tracy Harrison, Adele Doherty and Tracey Hewlett

Each year, Dr Kershaw’s Light Up a Life service gives people the opportunity to remember their loved ones during the festive season.

The service also celebrates the lives of those who are no longer with us, but are always in our thoughts, whether they received care from the Hospice or not.

It has now been announced that this year’s event raised over £30,500, an incredible amount and the highest to date for a Dr Kershaw’s Light Up a Life event.

The Hospice staff were overwhelmed by the support for their in-person and virtual services which took place last Sunday (December 3) from the local community and beyond, with donations made in memory of loved ones, monies which will enable the Hospice to provide dedicated care and support for a number of families across the borough of Oldham when they need it the most.

Eleanor Sloan, Fundraising Events Lead at the Hospice, said: “We had a fantastic turn out for our Light Up a Life 2023 Service seeing members of the community come together to remember their loved ones within the Hospice grounds, and by tuning in virtually from across the globe.

"Light Up a Life is a special event, close to people’s hearts.

"Thank you to the community for supporting Light Up a Life, by attending or tuning into our service and by making a dedication for your loved ones.

"We are astounded by the incredible amount raised, which will go towards helping more families, enabling us to continue to provide exceptional care for our patients.”

This year’s Light Up a Life multi-faith service saw almost 3,000 households tuning into the virtual service and over 1,160 dedications made to loved ones, as well as hundreds of people in attendance at the Hospice’s in-person service.

Those who made a dedication had a light lit in memory of their loved ones on the Hospice’s dedication tree and their loved ones names have a special place in their Light Up a Life Book of Remembrance (now available to collect from the Hospice, their shops or to download on their website) as well as on-screen during the virtual service.

The event, which was live-streamed on the Hospice’s Facebook page, YouTube channel and on Oldham Community Radio, received a number of positive comments from those across the community, with one supporter saying: “Beautiful service. Each and every staff member brings a whole diferent meaning to compassionate nursing. Thank you for all that you do.”

To view the online dedication booklet or watch the Light Up a Life service, visit: www.drkh.org.uk/LightUpaLife

The photo album from the Light Up a Life service is also available to view on the Hospice’s Facebook page here

A limited number of Light Up a Life baubles and badges are still available to purchase from the Hospice reception, with all proceeds going to Dr Kershaw’s.

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