The annual Light Up a Life remembrance services hosted by Moya Cole Hospice commenced with a poignant and atmospheric event at Manchester Cathedral on Sunday, December 7. These emotional services provide a dedicated space for individuals to honour and remember loved ones they have lost, centred around the symbolic lighting of a candle.
Personal Stories of Care and Compassion
Three separate services were held throughout the day, each led by the hospice's chaplain support coordinator, Peter O'Brien. Every service featured a unique personal testimony about the hospice's work.
The first service at 1pm heard from Steph Darbyshire, who spoke about the care her son, Nicholas, received at the Little Hulton hospice. "Moya Cole Hospice will forever be a special place in my heart," Steph said. She praised the outstanding care, compassion, and dedication shown during the three months Nicholas was under their care.
At the 2.30pm service, Mark Heil detailed the support his wife, Helen, received during her illness and at the end of her life. Mark, now a proud hospice ambassador, recalled initial fears about the word 'hospice'. "Within a short period of entering the hospice, I felt a weight had been lifted off my shoulders," he shared, emphasising that the shared responsibility of care confirmed they had made the correct decision.
The final service at 4pm featured Margaret Tait, a former volunteer chaplain. Margaret spoke of her long involvement with hospice care and how she remains connected through regular monthly donations with her husband, Phil. "This is the way in which I can still feel part of the hospice family," she explained.
A Community United in Remembrance
A central part of the event was a tree lighting ceremony. Attendees were given card baubles to write dedications to their loved ones and hang them on the tree, creating a collective and visual tribute.
Light Up a Life is one of the hospice's flagship annual appeals. Donations generated ensure the continuation of the highest quality care for patients and their families. Further services were scheduled in Little Hulton on Monday, at St Peter’s Church in Hale on Wednesday, December 11, and at the Heald Green hospice on Thursday, December 12 at 7pm.
The Scope of Moya Cole Hospice's Vital Work
Moya Cole Hospice provides comprehensive, holistic care for patients with life-limiting illnesses from its sites in Heald Green, Stockport, and Little Hulton, Salford. Its services include:
- Inpatient care, day therapy, and outpatient services.
- A 'Hospice at Home' service in Salford and Trafford.
- A Community Specialist Palliative Care Team in Salford.
- A dedicated homelessness palliative care service in Manchester.
- A 24-hour telephone advice line for patients, carers, and professionals across Salford, Manchester, Trafford, and Stockport.
The public can continue to support the appeal by leaving a dedication on the hospice's online Winter Forest. Every contribution helps light up the lives of those facing the most challenging times.
