Exeter Sands to host Lights of Love service

With the festive season nearly upon us, Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, is organising a series of twelve ‘Lights of Love’ evenings across the UK for parents, family and friends of those whose baby has died.

In Exeter, the non-denominational evening of traditional carols, inspirational readings and beautiful musical performances will be hosted at St Thomas’ Methodist Church, 110-111 Cowick Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 1JE on Friday 4th December at 7.30pm.

Those attending this service will be able to add a special message in memory of their son or daughter to a handmade tag to hang on the ‘Lights of Love’ Christmas tree.

Jo Anderson, Sands’ South West Network Coordinator and a member of the organising team for the event, says: 

“The death of a baby or another loved one is difficult to bear at any time of the year. Yet at a time like Christmas, those feelings of grief can often seem even more overwhelming.

“We hope that people attending find the evening provides them with a time of peace and reflection and an opportunity to remember the lives, however short, of those no longer with us.

All are welcome to attend regardless of religious background.”

Sadly thousands of babies die each year in the UK. In 2013, over 100 babies every week were stillborn or died soon after birth, shattering the lives of expectant parents, their families and friends, and the people who cared for them.

Other ‘Lights of Love’ evenings are being hosted across the UK on 4th December in: Cardiff, Derry, Durham and Wearside, Guernsey, Huddersfield, London, Liverpool, Nottingham, Portadown, Stirling and Warrington.

For anyone not able to attend a Lights of Love service, but would like their baby to be remembered, they can make a small donation and have a hand written message of their choosing displayed on one of our twelve trees at a venue of their choice.

For further details please visit: https://www.uk-sands.org/get-involved/events/lights-of-love or contact Jo Anderson 07845 310 617 or jo.anderson@uk-sands.org