City Hospice, Cardiff’s local hospice, has today (Monday 1st October 2018) launched its Christmas campaign, Light Up a Life.
The campaign focuses on helping families and friends to come together to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones. The charity encourages anyone who’s lost someone to write a message in a Book of Remembrance, make a donation and remember those who can’t be with us this festive season. The events being held during this time are open to anyone, not just people whose loved ones were cared for by City Hospice.
One family who will be thinking of someone special this Christmas are the Foster family from Cardiff. Sadly, in February 2018, Tony, who was husband to Luan and Dad to Lara and Connor, died from cancer. They were all devastated by the loss and started coming to see our lovely counsellor, Sarah.
“It’s such a hard time but to have support is just incredible. It’s not the day-to-day because you can do the dinner and all the things you have to do. It’s just getting your emotions out and getting that support. Hearing the word ‘hospice’, I wasn’t sure what to expect the first time we came but it’s such a warm, safe feeling to come to City Hospice and be supported. For me and the children, Sarah has been the help we’ve needed.’
Lara and Connor attended the Children’s Bereavement Group that Sarah runs.
“By attending the group, we got to meet other children going through the same experience as us and doing the activities helped us to learn how to cope with our feelings.”
A registered charity based in Cardiff, we provide medical, nursing and end of life care to patients in their own homes. We also offer counselling (adults and children), welfare benefits advice and day centres with a range of activities.
Liz Andrews, our Chief Executive here at City Hospice, is encouraging everyone to get involved in Light Up a Life. “We know that the death of a loved one can be really hard and we understand that special occasions such as birthdays and Christmases can be even tougher. We want to help people not only remember their family member, friend or colleague, but to help them celebrate and reflect too. Throughout the year, our amazing staff are on hand to support those who need it the most and Christmas, is no different.”
We would like to say a huge thank you to The Hodge Foundation who have supported our Light Up a Life campaign for many years and continue to do so this year.
If you’d like to make a donation or have your message included in our online book, visit: www.cityhospice.org.uk/light-up-a-life-2018
If you’d like to come along and support our Light Up a Life events, they are as follows:
Saturday 27th October 2018 – Mollie’s Vintage Fayre
Thursday 22nd November 2018 – City Hospice Charity Art Auction
Friday 23rd November 2018 – Celebrity Coffee Morning with special guest, Sir Gareth Edwards
Friday 30th November 2018 – Ladies’ Night
Sunday 2nd December 2018 – City Hospice Christmas Fair and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Light Up a Life Christmas Concerts
Wednesday 5th December 2018 – Christmas at St Mary’s Church, Whitchurch
Friday 7th December 2018 – Christmas at Llandaff Cathedral, Llandaff
Monday 10th December 2018 – Christmas at St Isan’s Church, Llanishen
Wednesday 12th December 2018 – Christmas at Beulah Church, Rhiwbina
Dydd Mercher Rhagfyr 12 2018 – Nadolig gyda Hosbis y Ddinas, Eglyws Newydd
