For all the joy Christmas brings it can also be a tough time for those who have lost a loved one.
With that in mind, cancer support charity The Hummingbird Centre will open its doors for its traditional Light the Light event aimed at reflecting on the past year, remembering loved ones and welcoming the Christmas season.
Taking place on Friday December 6th, from 4pm to 6.30pm, at the centre in Launton, near Bicester, people are invited to go along, have a festive drink and mince pie and enjoy dancing and entertainment from duo Sparky and Sprite who will perform a mixture of songs
The evening will culminate with the indoor and outdoor Christmas tree lights being switched on at 5pm and guests can toast the festive season, as well as quietly reflect on 2024.
Ahead of the day The Hummingbird Centre volunteers will carefully unwrap tiny hearts bearing the names of almost 3,500 loved ones which will be hung on two large Memory Trees.
Mechelle Harris, Founder of The Hummingbird Centre, said:
“The Light the Light event has been a long-held tradition for the centre and is a low-key ceremony aimed at bringing the community together with the opportunity to remember loved ones we have lost, or just reflect on the year, whether that has been good or bad.
“This is an open invitation for all the community, for our guests and their families and we would love people to join us. There will be tea/coffee/drinking chocolate and mulled wine, as well as mince pies. It will be a chance to give thanks, reflect and welcome the festive season.”
Over the past few months staff and inmates at Bullingdon Prison have been making wooden stars to help support the centre’s fund raising. They are available now at the centre for people to buy and add a name or message. The centre is asking for a donation and all stars will be added to the Christmas tree.
People can donate any amount they can give and all funds go towards the continuation of the services that The Hummingbird Centre provide supporting families impacted by cancer across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.
Mechelle added:
We would like to thank the staff and inmates of HMP Bullingdon Prison for making the stars for us. They are a wonderful addition to our Christmas event and we would urge people to get in touch quickly in order to get their hands on one.”
If anyone would like to sponsor a star, please contact the centre via info@thehummingbirdcentre.org.uk or call 01869 244244.
About The Hummingbird
The Hummingbird Centre opened its doors in 2014 after a promise Hummingbird founder Mechelle Harris made to her late father Raymond Hurcombe to create something good out of their loss as a family.
So far, The Hummingbird Centre has supported thousands of people and has become very much part of the community. It relies 100 per cent on donations and volunteers to enable it to operate and every penny raised goes back into the centre.
The Hummingbird Centre is open from Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 4pm, supporting people with cancer and their families, across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, their message is – if people can get to the centre they will be supported.
