The Forever Friends Appeal, the charity for the Royal United Hospitals Bath is inviting the local community to come together to be part of its annual remembrance service.

The virtual ceremony will take place on Monday, 6th December and will be streamed through The Forever Friends Appeal website between 11 am and 6 pm and will allow people to reflect together and celebrate the lives of loved ones who they have lost, whether they were cared for at the RUH or elsewhere.

The event will also help support the hospital’s RUH Palliative Care and End of Life Butterfly Fund and there will be an opportunity to remember loved ones names on a compassionate heart or star that will be placed on a tree of ‘Light and Love’ and displayed throughout the month of December. Dedication of names of loved ones will also be shown during the service.

Philip Turner, Deputy Team Chaplain at the RUH said: “The loss we feel is personal, but by coming together with others who are also wrestling with their grief, we can feel less alone. While restrictions at the hospital still prevent us from being in the same place, together we can create a similar space in our hearts. Wherever you are, you are invited to join together with others for our ‘Light and Love’ live event.”

Helen Meehan, Lead Nurse Palliative and End of Life Care said: “Caring for people nearing the end of life and supporting their families is one of the most important things that we do at the RUH. Not many of us express a wish for where we might die, many of us would wish to be at home if asked, but for many it is in hospital where they are cared for in the last days of life.”

Your support in memory of your loved ones through this special event will help us continue to provide compassionate care to patients and their families. Gifts donated to the Butterfly fund in dedication to your loved ones will help provide the little things that will make a compassionate difference to caring for our patients nearing End of Life.

To register for the virtual event, simply go to: www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk/light-and-love

For enquiries, please contact Jan Witt, Tribute & Legacy Manager on: 01225 825819 or email: [email protected].