Supporters of a Mapperley hospice got behind it’s annual appeal this winter, raising an impressive £19,000.
Nottinghamshire Hospice’s Light up a Life appeal, which ran through November and December, encouraged people to make a donation in memory of someone special, share a dedication on the hospice tree, and attend a Light up a Life event to remember loved ones.
They could also donate £350 – the cost of a night of care – to light up the hospice’s historic cupola tower for a night in a colour of their choice, to celebrate the life of someone special.
Family and friends of Rita Redgate from Mapperley chose to light the tower blue in her memory on what would have been her 79th birthday.
Rita’s husband Philip and family members collected donations of nearly £1,000 at Rita’s funeral after she passed away last year.
They chose to support the hospice because Rita had been a regular at the Day Therapy unit before the pandemic and continued to receive support visits once the hospice was closed to visitors in lockdown.
Philip, who met Rita in Mapperley when he was 22 and she was 17, said she loved her weekly visits to the hospice.
“At first she was apprehensive about coming because of the stigma attached to the word hospice, but she quickly got to know people and the stigma disappeared,” he said.
“She looked forward to coming, she loved all the activities, especially crafting, and she made good friends at the hospice. The hospice was a big part of her life.”
Philip, who has two sons, four granddaughters and a great grandchild on the way, said: “Lighting the tower is a special way of remembering her on her birthday and of showing support for the hospice.”
Nottingham City Council also supported the appeal by lighting up the council house purple on one of the days.
Claire Herrick, Head of Fundraising at Nottinghamshire Hospice, said: “We’re so grateful to everyone who chose to support our appeal.
“Donations mean we can continue to provide crucial care to help families like Rita’s when they need us. With our help, more people with life limiting illnesses will be able to die in comfort, at home, surrounded by loved ones.”
If you’d like to support the hospice, there are lots of ways to get involved. Find out more here.
