Generous Yorkshire Evening Post readers dig deep for  Half and Half Light up a Life appeal

The appeal remembers lost loved ones at Christmas and raises money for St Gemma’s Hospice in Moortown and Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice in Headingley.

It offers people the chance to sponsor a light on a tree in memory of someone special in aid of the YEP's Half and Half Appeal, which has raised more than £3m since it was launched in 1982.

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The Christmas tree is now in place at the Light shopping centre and will twinkle all Christmas in memory of lost loved ones.

All names will also be displayed on a banner surrounding it, but there will be no special service this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic

We ask that you make your donations only via our Virgin Money Giving page.

We plan to run a roll of honour in the YEP on Saturday December 12 with the names of lost loved ones.

We will only be able to print names, but you can include a message on our Virgin Money Giving Sophia Last, senior fundraiser at St Gemma’s Hospice, said: "Since this year’s Half and Half Light up a Life appeal launched last week, the amazing readers of the YEP have donated £545, to be split between both hospices.

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"Every pound given already will make such a difference to people across our city who are facing a terminal or life-limiting illness, thank you.

"As we continue to be distanced from family and friends during December, it’s so important to have a special way to remember those you are missing."

We are also moving our Half and Half Appeal to the same Virgin Money Giving page for donations only.

St Gemma’s and Wheatfields charity shops have had to close due to the pandemic and fundraising events have been cancelled so the Half and Half Appeal has never been needed more than it is in 2020.