Bluebell Wood Launches ‘Light Up the Lake’ Appeal

Article Provided by Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice’s brand-new Light up the Lake appeal is offering people the chance to celebrate someone who’s brightened up their life by dedicating a candle-lit lantern in their name.

Whether it’s paying tribute to those who are no longer with us, or celebrating those who’ve been a light in the darkness this past year, it’s the perfect way to help your local children’s hospice while remembering someone special.

E ach lantern will join many others cast across the water on September 18th at Manver’s Lake, Wath-upon-Dearne. While Bluebell Wood would love supporters to join them there on the night to witness this stunning spectacle.

For those who’d rather not attend the ceremony in person, there will be a ‘virtual’ alternative so they can see their dedication floated out onto the lake under the setting sun. You can make a dedication here www.bluebellwood.org/lake.

Anne and Eliot Squires, who said their heartbreaking final goodbyes to their baby boy at Bluebell Wood, will be dedicating their lantern to Wulfric.

Wulfric was born at 33 weeks, but just days after he was born, the family had to make the impossible decision to take him to Bluebell Wood.

Bluebell Wood really is a beautiful place and I can’t thank them enough for giving us the chance to say a “proper goodbye to our little boy

Anne said: “We drove down the drive to the hospice surrounded by all the woodland and greenery; and it was almost like walking into someone’s home. A very warm, homely and friendly place.

“Our room was set up perfectly for us and we could finally take Wulfric out of the incubator for cuddles. Then they took all his tubes out, and it took him 1hr

and 27 minutes to pass away in my arms. He stopped breathing quite quickly but his heart wouldn’t stop beating. It just kept beating and beating and beating.

“It’s an unbelievably hard thing to think about, but it was all done in the most dignified way. It was handled beautifully and I’ll always be grateful for that

“Bluebell Wood really is a beautiful place and I can’t thank them enough for giving us the chance to say a proper goodbye to our little boy.”

(LtoR) Wulfric’s siblings Odin, Persia and Arwen, grandma Lorna and Wulfric with mum and dad Anne and Eliot.

Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice

The charity’s Light up the Lake event, where people can dedicate a lantern in return for a small donation to the charity, will take place on Saturday, September 18th in line with the latest government guidance.

Samantha Wood, Head of Fundraising at Bluebell Wood, said: “It’s been one of the toughest years we’ve ever faced as a charity from a fundraising perspective, with so many of our events and campaigns cancelled because of the pandemic. And we know that the past year’s been incredibly challenging for everyone, with so many unable to be close to family and friends, or say goodbye to loved ones in the way they would have wanted.

“That’s why we’re very excited about our first ever Light up the Lake appeal which will be the perfect way to reflect and remember while celebrating and paying tribute to the special people in our lives.

“So please do join us for what promises to be a breathtaking and moving display as we Light up the Lake under the setting sun. Each and every donation to our appeal will help us support families like Wulfric’s through the darkest times they’ll ever face.”

Everything you need to know about Bluebell Wood’s Light up the Lake appeal can be found here www.bluebellwood.org/lake or by calling 01909 508 103.