Dedicate a star in memory of someone you love

You can dedicate a star to your loved one in our virtual night sky or by contacting our fundraising team on 01246 567250. 

When you make your dedication, you will receive an invitation to our special Light up a Life remembrance events. Here we will gather together and celebrate the lives of our loved ones.

You can come back and visit your dedication throughout Christmas and into the new year. All dedications will then be retired and no longer visible from 31st March 2024.

To make a star dedication, we suggest a donation of £25, or whatever you can afford. Your generous contribution will go a long way to ensuring we can continue to provide exceptional end of life care to patients and their families throughout North Derbyshire.

After you have donated, your loved one’s star will shine in our virtual night sky. You can then return to view your dedication throughout winter. From 31st March 2024, the dedications will be retired and no longer visible. Additionally, after you have donated, we will send you an invitation to our remembrance services and details on how to reserve your place.

As you will know, the past few years have been difficult in the wake of COVID-19, as well as the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis. Our running costs have increased, as has the demand for our services.

By donating to our Light up a Life appeal, you will be helping patients and their families across North Derbyshire to receive hospice care when they need it.

When you dedicate a star, you will receive an invitation to our lantern procession and ceremony at the hospice which is taking place on Sunday 3rd December 2023. Additionally, you are invited to attend the following local remembrance services happening on behalf of the hospice. Everyone is welcome to attend, and no booking is required.

• St Bartholomew’s Church (Wednesday 6th December at 6.30pm, S41 9QP)
• Hasland Baptist Church (Sunday 10th December at 2.30pm, S41 0PF)
• St Thomas’ Church (Sunday 10th December at 4.30pm, S40 3AW)

You are also welcome to attend our Christmas Carol Service on Thursday 14th December at 7pm at the Crooked Spire (The Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints, S40 1XJ). This will be a wonderful and joyous occasion, and a fantastic way to come together during the holiday season. Please reserve your free place at the Christmas Carol Service.

There is no minimum age to join the lantern procession and remembrance ceremony. However, those under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Details of our Light up a Life lantern procession and ceremony will be sent to you after you have dedicated a star. We will send one copy to your email address and one through the post. We ask that you follow the links to register for the event as this will help to secure your parking space, if needed, and help us to manage numbers on the night. If you have signed up to the event, but cannot find the details, please contact us at fundraising@ashgatehospice.org.uk or on the phone at 01246 67250.

To make any changes to your event attendance, please email fundraising@ashgatehospice.org.uk or call the Fundraising Team on 01246 567250. 

The 1.3-mile lantern procession route to the hospice is suitable for wheelchair users and those with pushchairs. Please be mindful that the route has a slight incline and so we recommend that those using a non-motorised wheelchair are assisted.

Download the Light Up A Life Route Map (PDF, 1.3MB)

We kindly ask that dogs are not brought along to this event; except service animals such as guide dogs.

The health and safety of all those involved is our priority. In case of severe weather, we will cancel this event. If this should happen, we will contact you via email, and we recommend following Ashgate Hospice on social media for the latest news on our events.

This year, lanterns will be distributed at the start of the lantern procession and ceremony. If you do not plan to attend the lantern procession or the memorial service but would like to receive a lantern, please get in touch with our fundraising team. You can contact us at fundraising@ashgatehospice.org.uk or by calling 01246 567250, and we’ll be delighted to send one to you. 

As in previous years, we will play a video of all the dedications made to our Light up a Life appeal at our hospice remembrance ceremony. Simply make your dedication by Sunday 19th November 2023 to ensure your loved one is included.

If you do not wish to have your loved one included in the video, select the option to Opt-Out when making your dedication.

Yes. To ensure that Light up a Life is accessible to everyone, you’re welcome to come to our ceremony without taking part in the lantern procession. To do this, you will need to follow the ‘Ceremony Only’ link in your email or on your Thank You card.