Remember lost loved ones with YEP's Light Up A Life this Christmas

Our annual appeal, now in its 35th year, gives readers the chance to sponsor a light on a Christmas tree at The Light shopping centre in the heart of Leeds.

The names of those with lights dedicated to them will be listed on a roll of honour which will take pride of place in the courtyard by the tree for the entire Christmas period.

The board is unveiled and the lights lit in a special carol service at The Light which this year takes place on Wednesday December 6.

Donations for Light Up A Life go towards the YEP’s long-running Half and Half Appeal for the Leeds’ two hospices - St Gemma’s and Sue Ryder Wheatfields. Pete Watson, senior community fundraiser at Wheatfields Hospice, said: “Light up a Life is a special way to celebrate the lives of our loved ones.

“Not only does it provide a wonderful opportunity for the local community to remember loved ones it also raises vital funds for the Leeds hospice’s, Wheatfields and St Gemma’s, ensuring that we can continue to provide care and support to people across Leeds.

“Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support.”

Joanna Wrighton, fundraiser at St Gemma’s Hospice, added: “The Yorkshire Evening Post’s Half and Half Light up a Life Appeal is a wonderful campaign that brings supporters of both St Gemma’s Hospice and Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice together to remember their loved ones during the festive period, whilst raising vital funds for the city’s hospices.

“We are extremely grateful to the Yorkshire Evening Post for their continued support and to all of our supporters who join us for this moving ceremony and whose donations allow us to continue caring for the people of Leeds.”

Generous YEP readers last year raised £8,212 through the Light Up A Life Appeal for the city’s two hospices.

Supporters’ donations will be published in a Light Up A Life column which will appear in the Yorkshire Evening Post every Saturday from November 11 until December 2.

Dedications as short messages can also be printed.

To sponsor a light, send a donation to The Editor’s Secretary, Yorkshire Evening Post, No 1 Leeds, 26 Whitehall Road, Leeds, LS12 1BE. Cheques should be made payable to YEP’s Half and Half Appeal. The closing date for names to be added to the roll of honour is Tuesday November 28.

*** The YEP’s Half and Half Appeal is believed to be the longest running charity campaign in the country - raising money for St Gemma’s Hospice in Moortown and Sue Ryder Wheatfields in Headingley since 1982.

It has so far raised over £2.9m for the wo hospices, who rely on donations to provide specialist palliative and end of life care for thousands of local people with cancer and other life threatening illnesses each year.

In 2014 we launched ‘Project £3m’ to try and top the impressive target.