Tag: St Columba's Hospice Care

Hospice urges local community to Light Up A Life to remember loved ones this winter

St Columba’s Hospice Care has launched its 45th annual Light Up A Life appeal, which offers people across Edinburgh and the Lothians the opportunity to come together to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones who have died.

This year’s appeal is backed by Mary Moriarty who, prior to her death on 3 October 2022 was support by the Hospice’s community team.

Mary shared her story in support of Light Up A Life and said: “The one thing I knew was I wanted to be cared for at home, that was the main thing for me and they’ve helped me do that.”

Over the past year, the Hospice has made almost 5000 home visits to patients across Edinburgh and the Lothians and appeals like Light Up A Life raise the funds needed to make this possible.

Jackie Stone, CEO, St Columba’s Hospice Care, said: “Light Up A Life is always a really special time of year when we can pay tribute to and remember loved ones. Every year, our community comes together to share memories and celebrate the lives of those we love who have died.

“It’s always a very poignant service and we are looking forward to welcoming people from across the city both in person and virtually. Every penny raised through the appeal helps us continue to provide specialist care for patients and families in the local community.”

This year’s campaign runs from October until 2 January and is open to everyone, not just those who have been supported by the Hospice, offering the whole community time and space to remember someone special.

Dedications can be made online throughout the festive season and the Hospice will be lighting up its Trees of Remembrance at a special service on Monday 5 December in Charlotte Square Gardens at 6.30pm and in St Mary’s Pleasance Garden, Haddington at 6.30pm on Thursday 8 December.

Entry is free and everyone is welcome to attend the services and can also make a dedication if they would like to.

Dedications can be made online at http://www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk/donate or by calling 0131 551 1381. 

Mary’s full story can be read on the Hospice website here.

Law firm raises more than £2,000 for St Columba’s Hospice Care

Six businesses lined the banks of the River Forth to compete in the annual Dragon Boat Race in aid of St Columba’s Hospice Care. Among those was full-service law firm Thorntons, who entered a team from its Edinburgh office at Citypoint, raising £2,100 for the charity.

St Columba’s Hospice Care, which has a state-of-the-art hospice facility in the capital, provides care through dedicated support in people’s homes and local communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians, as well as working with partners on education and further research.

The Dragon Boat Race is one of the highlights of the fundraising calendar which supports the organisation’s efforts to provide palliative and end-of-life care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Thorntons Senior Solicitor and Dragon Boat Race competitor Hannah Dossett, said: “This was a new experience for our team with lots of nervous energy but also laughter as we stepped into the boat.

“We soon got into a rhythm and had a great time. It was the first event since the pandemic where we could do something as a team and everyone really enjoyed themselves.

“We didn’t win fastest or best dressed but our ‘Thorny Dragons’ team name did win us a prize. We are really proud of our efforts as a team, and the great sum raised – we’re already talking about taking part again next year.”

Amanda Southey, Corporate Development Manager at St Columba’s Hospice Care, said; “It was great to see all the teams, as well as members of the public, pull together to raise money and support the Hospice in such a unique way.

“I’m also excited that several of the competitors enjoyed it so much they have signed up for next year, which is already set to be bigger and better than ever! I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone who helped or took part in what was a really fun event.

“We are very grateful for the donation from Thorntons, as £1,000 alone could fund a Hospice at Home service for a day, enabling the team to provide home visits to patients in the community.”

Headquartered in Dundee, Thorntons now has 13 offices ranging from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Montrose to St Andrews, Arbroath and Perth.

Light up a Life this Christmas for St Columba’s Hospice Care

St Columba’s Hospice Care will be lighting up its Trees of Remembrance on Monday 6th December in Charlotte Square Gardens, Edinburgh and Thursday 9th December in St Mary’s Pleasance Courtyard, Haddington, for its annual Christmas appeal, ‘Light up a Life’.  

The services are open to all, not just those with a connection to the Hospice​; and the lights on the Tree of Remembrance symbolise dedications made by supporters across Edinburgh and the Lothians in memory of people who have died.

St Columba’s Hospice Care Chief Executive, Jackie Stone, spoke about the importance of the appeal to the Hospice. She said: “Light up a Life is a hugely important appeal for us, as it brings the St Columba’s Hospice Care community together at what can be a time of mixed emotions for many who are remembering a loved one.

“The donations we received last year, in excess of £110,000, helped us to reach patients and families across Edinburgh and East Lothian. The money raised this year will enable us to bring world leading palliative care to even more of the people who need it in our communities.” 

The Tree of Remembrance lighting ceremonies draw thousands of people and this year’s events will open at 5.30pm, before the services begin at 6.30pm.

The events are sponsored by Farmer’s Autocare and Walter Scott Foundation. Performing at both services this year is Ciara Harvie, a 23 year old classical crossover singer from Edinburgh.

Her reputation is now global, with regular appearances in Europe and beyond, as the world continues to be wowed by this young classical singer possessing a voice filled with passion, warmth, soul, and maturity.

The Edinburgh Brass Band will also perform in Charlotte Square Gardens.

Anyone is welcome to attend a service, simply email 

fund@stcolumbashospice.org.uk 

to let us know your name, venue of choice and the number of guests.

The trees will remain lit throughout the festive period until Monday 3rd January.  

Dedications can be made online throughout December at 

stcolumbashospice.org.uk/light-up-a-life-2021 

or by calling 0131 551 1381. 

Barratt East Scotland team hikes Edinburgh’s seven hills for St Columba’s Hospice Care

Barratt East Scotland, which includes both Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, has fundraised £16,000 for their new charity partner, St Columba’s Hospice Care.

Taking on the seven hills challenge to reach the top of Calton Hill, Castle Rock, Corstorphine Hill, Craiglockhart Hill, Braid Hill, Blackford Hill, and Arthur’s Seat, 19 Barratt East employees completed the capital city hike in under seven hours as part of their fundraising efforts.

St Columba’s Hospice Care is an independent charity that has been providing vital hospice and end of life care to people with incurable illness and their families for over 40 years. Throughout the pandemic, the Hospice Team has continued to offer their services to those who need it most across Edinburgh and the Lothians – be that at home, in care settings or at the Hospice itself.

The donation from the Barratt East Scotland team will help to ensure the hospice can continue to offer its support to people in local communities across the capital. As well as nursing and medical care, the Hospice offers patients and their families whatever social, practical, emotional and spiritual support they may need, from physiotherapy and counselling, to immersive art and music therapy.

Alison Condie, Managing Director at Barratt East Scotland, said: “St Columba’s Hospice Care carries out incredible work supporting patients and their families. We’re pleased to be able to help with our donation and hope it allows them to continue to provide these crucial and important services.”

Speaking of the donation Amanda Southey, Corporate Development Manager for St Columba’s Hospice Care added: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to the employees of Barratt East Scotland for their incredible efforts.

“Challenges like ‘7 Hills’ raise vital funds for the Hospice and help us to deliver high-quality, specialist care and support to those that need it most across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“After what has been a very challenging year for us, we’re delighted to have the support of such an enthusiastic team and can’t wait to see how our new partnership develops over the coming year!”

As part of its community benefits programme, the five-star housebuilder works with a wide range of local causes, and has continued to step up its efforts through the Barratt and David Wilson Community Fund.

Now in its third year, the Community Fund pledges to donate £1,000 each month to a charity or organisation in the east of Scotland. Charities are nominated by and voted for by employees of Barratt Homes and the focus for the fund continues to be on organisations that improve the quality of life for those living in the area.

Interested charities can enquire about donation opportunities at charity.eastscotland@barratthomes.co.uk

Visit the Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes websites for more information.