Sponsor a light in memory of a loved one
As we approach the festive season, we know it can be a difficult time for those who are at the end of their life, or for those who have lost someone important to them. But at this time of year especially, Dorothy House offers a beacon of hope and healing for many, with our Light up a Life Appeal.
Keep your loved one’s memory alive
It is our privilege to invite you to sponsor a light on our beautiful Christmas tree in the grounds of Winsley House, in memory of a loved one. The light will shine continuously throughout the festive season in their honour.
Not only is it a tribute to the special person in your life, your dedication to this year’s Light up a Life Appeal ensures patients and families will continue to receive care when and where they need it most. A generous sponsorship of £82.30 could fund the cost of one of our nurse specialists visiting a patient in the comfort of their own home.
Your kind donations and how they help
Toby's story
Toby, whose wife, Sara, was a patient at Dorothy House when she died at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, has been on his own bereavement journey. Toby attended our 2023 Light up a Light service at Bath Abbey as a way to remember Sara.
“It was nice to be able to keep the memory of her life going; letting her know that we were still thinking of her and that her life was not going to be forgotten. We all know that the people we love don’t just go away when they die. My life will carry on, but remembering her life is precious, and needs to be marked in a way.”
Your support provides vital care for families
As we all try to create treasured moments together with our loved ones this Christmas, your sponsorship of a light will help patients and their families who are living with life limiting diagnoses to make their own special moments.
The festive season can be a hard time for families, but by supporting Dorothy House, you can ensure that their loved ones receive the pain management, care and dignity they deserve in their last days.
You may have heard of the current hospice funding crisis across the UK. Recent research by Hospice UK has shown there is not a single part of the country where Government funding of local hospice services has not fallen in real terms in the last two years. Your support of Dorothy House is more appreciated right now than ever before; it will ensure that we can continue to provide the vital care that our patients need at what can be the most difficult time of year for those facing death and bereavement.
Hand-written dedication card
If you choose to sponsor a light, you will receive a hand-written dedication card, so please do ensure you fill in your postal details when donating. If you have not received a physical mailing, you will see a space on the donation form inviting you to leave a message on a star.
Your message will be written on two lovely stars, one is for you to keep and will be sent with your dedication card, the other will be displayed here at Winsley House. The stars will then be displayed at each service, hundreds of special messages placed together, dedicated to those we wish to remember.
Services of Light
Our Services of Light are welcoming to all, to those of faith and those of none. They take place at Bath Abbey and at Winsley House in the Beacon; a beautiful multi-faith space where you can find serenity and peace.
During the services, you will be offered a candle, this is yours to take and light at a time that is meaningful to you. For those younger attendees, we will be offering a Christmas gift as a symbol of our thanks. The services include special readings, songs from our choir and the lighting of our beautiful Christmas tree – this is a particularly touching moment as everyone remembers the person whom they sponsored a light.
For those unable to attend the services, you are of course welcome to visit the tree anytime.
You can register for a free ticket to any of our specific services below. Alternatively, you can call our Supporter Care Team on 01225 721 480.
Malmesbury Abbey LUAL Service
On Tuesday 10 December at 6:00pm North Wiltshire Friends will be hosting their own Light up a Life Service at Malmesbury Abbey.
If you would like to attend, please contact Rebecca Whitworth on rebeccalwhitworth@yahoo.co.uk.
Thank you for your support
On behalf of everybody at Dorothy House, thank you for being a kind supporter and sponsoring a light to help ensure that those in their time of need continue to receive personalised end of life and palliative care.
