Light Up a Life raises £33,000 for Barnsley Hospice

Barnsley Hospice’s ‘Light Up a Life’ campaign has raised £33,263 which will help to deliver specialist care in the town.

The annual campaign involves donating to the hospice in memory of loved ones, and a light is dedicated to their memory on Christmas trees. Two services were held as lives were celebrated at St Mary’s Church and Barnsley Hospice, with hundreds in attendance at both events in November and December. For the first time, names were submitted to be remembered in an online book of remembrance, enabling those far and wide to dedicate a light to a life of a loved one, with almost 1,400 people’s lives remembered in the book.

Vicky Stead, Community Relationship Manager at Barnsley Hospice, said: “Light Up a Life is one of the more poignant fundraising campaigns in our calendar, with the lives of loved ones at its heart. To have raised such a wonderful amount is a credit to all supporters and corporate sponsors who made both services possible.

“We had some very moving performances and readings, with people giving up their time to make Light up a Life the special event that it is. Thank you to our wonderful readers including our patron Dan Jarvis MP, the amazing singers and performers Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band, South Yorkshire Police Band, Izzy Watson and Lily Banton.

“Our online book of remembrance proved to be extremely popular, with many of those in attendance saying how nice it was that they could show the book to friends and family who live far and wide. Donating in memory of loved ones as part of Light Up a Life enables us to continue providing the best possible care to the people of Barnsley and those close to them.”