A Cumbrian hospice charity’s popular remembrance service is set to return for the first time in three years.
Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice is getting ready to bring its Light up a Life service back this Friday – which will be the first time the event is held in-person since 2019 due to COVID-19.
The service, which is held in Carlisle cathedral, is an opportunity for hospice supporters and the wider local community to come together and remember people who have died.
During the service, the cathedral’s Christmas lights will be turned on by Andrea Mortimer, of Penrith, whose son Jacob was cared for by Jigsaw last year.
Jacob was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour when he was just six months old and died a few months later in Jigsaw. Andrea and her family continue to support the charity in a number of ways.
Martha Pardoe, relationship fundraiser at the hospice, said: “It’s been such a long time since we’ve been able to welcome our incredible supporters, the local community and other special guests to our Light up a Life service at Carlisle Cathedral and we cannot wait to see everyone again.
“The service promises to be a very special occasion, with music, readings and plenty of opportunities to remember loved ones. Thank you to all those who’ve very generously donated to the appeal so far, your contributions will really make a difference to local families.”
The cathedral service, along with a smaller gathering at the hospice, is part of the wider annual Light up a Life fundraising appeal for the charity. The hospice must raise more than £3 million each year to continue caring for local people with life-limiting illnesses.
The charity has already held its intimate Light up a Life gathering at the hospice which took place on Sunday, November 28. This gathering, which featured a performance by the Border Concert Band, was also the first of its kind since 2019 and was well-attended by hospice supporters.
It was also an opportunity to officially switch-on the Christmas lights in the hospice grounds, which was led by Joe Alecock, from Carlisle, who has been supported by Jigsaw for around 16 years.
The football mad 26-year-old has a muscle-wasting condition and attends Jigsaw regularly for respite care.
Joe said: “Jigsaw is a loving and caring place that you can also have a good laugh in, a bit of banter which always helps. The best thing for me is being able to get that break from day-to-day life.”
The service is open to everyone and starts at 7.30pm on December 9. If you would like to donate to the Light up a Life appeal, you can visit www.edenvalleyhospice.org/support-us/lual-22
