| Hundreds of people braved the cold to see the Duchess of Kent House Charity Light Up A Life ceremony on Friday (3rd December) evening.
They entered the gardens at Duchess of Kent House, in Liebenrood Road, in near darkness carrying candle lights. When ’Now light one thousand Christmas Lights’ was sung, literately thousands of lights were turned on at once; each light on the Christmas Trees and surrounding walls representing the life of a loved one.
Carols were sung by the Girls Choir of The Highlands School, Tilehurst and Vivace Voices, accompanied by the Reading Spring Gardens Band. The event was bought to a close by piper Michael Barnes playing Amazing Grace.
Jo Trafford, Matron of Duchess of Kent House, Julian Walker, a Trustee of the Charity, Charlotte McKenna, a supporter of the Charity and Muriel Harding, Nursing Assistant and volunteer at the unit all read at this year’s event.
Guests included Reading Mayor, Councillor Gul Khan, Wokingham Borough Council’s Mayor, Councillor Dianne King, the Wokingham Town Mayor, Councillor Mrs UllaKarin Clark, Brigadier Michael Aris CBE, deputy lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire and Alok Sharma, MP for Reading West.
It is not yet known how much has been raised from the event, which is now in its twelfth year, but the charity is hopeful it will raise over £12,000.
George Solly, Director of Fundraising for the charity said "As we approach the end of another year our thoughts turn to relatives and friends who are no longer with us. For this reason, Christmas can be a difficult time for many but as today and our previous Light Up A Life appeals have proved, there is a meaningful way to treasure the memory of a loved one. All proceeds from the sponsorship of lights and ‘in memory’ donations will go to providing hospice care locally. On behalf of the charity, I would like to thank everyone for their generous support."
The lights will shine out every evening until Twelfth Night (6th January 2011). Donations are accepted until this date with remembered names entered into the In Memoriam book. The book is available to download here.
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