Hundreds of people whose lives have been touched by the work of Isabel Hospice came together for the charity’s final Lights of Love service of the year.
The event at Mill Green Golf Club on Sunday, December 10 concluded a series of Lights of Love services in Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Buntingford and Cheshunt.
As well as offering attendees an opportunity to make a dedication to a loved one, the Mill Green event featured free mince pies and hot chocolate, reflective readings and performances from Applecroft School Choir, Commonswood School Choir, Mid Herts Centre for Music and Arts Junior Choir, Hatfield Welwyn Community Choir and Welwyn Harmony.
The event culminated with the switching on of a tree illuminated with hundreds of lights, each representing a dedication left in memory of a loved one, followed by a silent fireworks display.
Almost 1,000 names were dedicated this year, with Lights of Love raising more than £30,000 thanks to those who chose to make a donation to Isabel Hospice alongside their dedication.
The dedicated names are listed in Isabel Hospice’s Book of Dedications, which can be viewed in the Isabel Hospice charity shops in Bishop’s Stortford, Buntingford, Cheshunt, Hertford, Sawbridgeworth and Welwyn village.
Lisa Bailey, Isabel Hospice’s In-Memory Officer, said: “Our annual Lights of Love services are so important to us as an opportunity for the community we serve to come together and remember those loved ones who are no longer with us.
"This year, people showed up in their hundreds to our most well attended Lights of Love service to date, in Welwyn Garden City.
We are overwhelmed that so many chose to join us this year in this moment of remembrance, their presence made the evening so much more special.”
SUGGESTED READING
Light up for hospice
There is still time to leave a dedication to someone special by contacting Lisa Bailey on 01707 954 827 or on the Isabel Hospice virtual Lights of Love Christmas tree, which can be found at the link below
https://visufund.com/lights-of-love-2023
Founded in 1982, Isabel Hospice provides support and care to people in eastern Hertfordshire who are affected by life-limiting illnesses through its Hospice at Home, In-Patient Unit, Community Team, Living Well with Isabel programme, and its Family and Bereavement support service.
The hospice's clinical teams work closely with other healthcare providers in the area, including care homes, hospitals and GP surgeries, improving access to services and sharing knowledge and expertise.
Isabel’s services are free of charge to those who need them, but they are not without cost, meaning £7 million must be raised each year to guarantee the future of care for Eastern Hertfordshire.
In the years 2021-2022, Isabel Hospice supported 1,435 patients.
These services included 257 IPU admissions, 1,233 Clinical Nurse Specialist Patient consultations, 3,630 Hospice at Home contacts, 343 Living Well Patients and 3,163 Family Support Counselling sessions.
Isabel supported over 2,000 people in the community through its Advice Line, Living Well Centre, Compassionate Neighbours programme, Hospice at Home service and Family Support.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here