Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation invites people to Memorial Walk and Shine a Light ceremony

Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation’s annual Memorial Walk and Shine a Light Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Sunday, December 3, to help raise funds for vital palliative care services in both counties.

The five-kilometre memorial walk starts at 5 p.m. and will loop around Knock. This year’s event will be by candlelight and tealights will be provided to everyone taking part.

Once the walk finishes at the Pope Francis Plaza on Main Street, Knock, Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation will hold their annual tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m., with music by John McNicholl.

People are invited to remember a loved one, living or deceased, and share in the Shine a Light ceremony. During the ceremony, loved ones who have passed away or indeed those who have been going through a challenging time will be remembered. Prayers and music will be offered for those being remembered. Refreshments will also be served.

If you would like to take part in the memorial walk, log on to www.hospice.ie/memorialwalk or call (094) 9388666. The walk is free and open to everyone. People are welcome to take a sponsorship card or set up an iDonate or GoFundMe page to fundraise. Personalised t-shirts are available to order until November 17. All t-shirts can be picked up from 4 p.m. at St. John’s Rest and Care Centre in Knock on the day of the event.

You can purchase a special Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation Shine a Light card in a loved one's name by logging on to www.hospice.ie/shop or by calling (094) 9388666. All those names will be entered into the foundation’s Book of Remembrance for the special ecumenical service on the third Sunday in January.

Martina Jennings, CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, commented: “Our Shine a Light gathering is a heart-warming evening where our local communities unite to honour the memory of those who have passed. This year, the event will kick off with a candlelit memorial walk, a profoundly special occasion during which participants walk in remembrance of their beloved ones.

“At Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, we have numerous reasons to extend our gratitude this year. Our palliative teams continue their unwavering dedication, serving both Mayo and Roscommon Hospices and our local communities.

“We hold a deep appreciation for the support we receive from the communities in both counties, as without their backing, sustaining this vital service would be hugely challenging.”

Visit www.hospice.ie for further details.