Jane Parkin, the owner of much-loved Farsley boutique, Cottage Designs, writes:
Dear editor. My name is Jane, and this December I’ll be attending a very special event – Sue Ryder Celebrate a Life Leeds. The winter event has a special place in my heart after the team at Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice supported my husband Glenn in his final days.
Celebrate a Life gives people the opportunity to come together to remember a friend or family member alongside other people also experiencing grief.
The care and support both Glenn and I received from the team at the hospice inspired us to start fundraising for Sue Ryder. He was always coming up with ideas of how we could raise money when he was here, and I am determined to keep his legacy going and to continue fundraising for the charity.
I went along to Celebrate a Life last year, previously known as Lights of Love, along with Glenn’s sister and her family. It was lovely and we will definitely be going again this December.
The event brings people together who totally understand what you are going through. This is important because when you are grieving you can feel like you’re the only person going through it and you can feel a bit lost.
Celebrate a Life also gives you some quiet time to reflect on your own thoughts and feelings. People talk to me about Glenn every day, but sometimes you want your own time as well. Glenn wanted me to remember all the happy times we had together and an event like Celebrate a Life gives me the opportunity to do that.
If you would like to join, Sue Ryder Celebrate a Life Leeds will take place at Leeds City Museum at 2pm on Sunday, 3 December. For more information or to register to attend visit www.sueryder.org/leeds or contact the Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice Fundraising Team via email wheatfields.fundraising@sueryder.org or call 0113 203 3340.
Many thanks,
Jane Parkin, 64, Farsley
Thank you for featuring the article by Jane Parkin of Farsley highlighting the Sue Ryder Remembrance Service to be held on Sunday 3 December at Leeds City Museum.
My husband passed away at Wheatfields Hospice in Headingley almost 6 months ago. I cannot emphasise enough the support we were given there by the staff when he had to have end of life care.
We could not have wished for a more peaceful ending after the trauma we had been through during his last few months.
I hope to see Jane at the Remembrance Service.