Philip’s Footprints will be lighting up a hotel in St Helier tomorrow night and Jersey Hospice Care will be branching out into their garden on Saturday night to light up a tree.
Around 150 candle jars have been decorated for the Lights of Love Service being held at the Mayfair Hotel by families who have been affected by the loss of a baby.
Philip’s Footprints founder Jo Nash said: “Christmas can be a very difficult time for anyone who has lost a loved one and our service gives an opportunity to pause before the Christmas rush, remember and celebrate the lives, however short, of those gone too soon.”
The candlelit service starts at 7.45 pm – at the same time as SANDS – the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity – holds similar services across the UK.
Jo said: “It will make for a very beautiful evening, to share this candlelit service with others who have experienced a similar loss. Despite the tragedy of the death of a baby, there can be great comfort in knowing you are not alone.”
Islanders can dedicate a light on one of the trees in the gardens of Jersey Hospice Care in memory of a loved one when it is lit up for the first time at a special “Evening to Remember” on Saturday from 6 pm.
The charity’s CEO Steve Harvey said: “We know Christmas can be a particularly hard time of the year for those that have lost a loved one, regardless of how long ago it happened.
“We hope our evening to remember will provide the opportunity for some time for quiet contemplation and also an opportunity to remember happier times of loved ones no longer here. The tree of light will hopefully provide some comfort for those patients currently at Hospice as well as families that have used Hospice facilities “
The tree will be lit every evening from 4 pm until 10 pm until 5 January.
Anyone who has lost a loved one can also go along to the annual Service of Remembrance at the Crematorium at Westmount on Sunday afternoon. The service starts at 3 pm.
If you’d like to go to the Lights of Love service you can contact Jo on 631173 or email jo@philipsfootprints.org
You can arrange to dedicate a light on the Hospice tree here.