Light Up a Life

Light Up a Life will last between 30-45 minutes.

The event will be led by our CEO, Stuart Palma, and is an opportunity to remember your loved ones. There will be moments of reflection, pieces of music, lighting and dedicating of candles together.

Members of our patient and family support services will be on hand if you’re upset or would like to talk to someone.

You are more than welcome to stay afterwards. There will be refreshments available and an opportunity to remember your loved one with our in-memory display, and you are welcome to visit our Sanctuary if you would like some time of quiet reflection.

This year Light Up a Life will be held outside in the grounds at Martlets, Wayfield Avenue, Hove, BN3 7LW.

As the event is being held at the hospice, only limited blue badge parking is available. Please let us know on your booking form if you require a disabled parking space. Pre-booking is essential. Guests are kindly asked to park at Martlets’ warehouse (10min walk away), nearby streets, or use public transport where possible.

The nearest train station is Aldrington, just over 0.5 miles away. This is approximately 10 minutes' walk. 

There are local bus links, the nearest bus stop is approximately 2 minutes' walk to the hospice. Bus routes are available on www.buses.co.uk (search ‘Wayfield Avenue’), served by Brighton Hove bus route 5A. 

Please don’t worry if you are running late, you can join the event once you arrive. All we would kindly ask is that you join as quietly as possible. 

The Light Up a Life event is free to attend. 

However, donations toward the hospice are all greatly appreciated.

• On the evening, there will be collection buckets dotted around. There will also be members of staff on hand with card machines. 
• Alternatively, you can donate quickly and securely online. 

Light Up a Life is your chance to remember a loved one no longer with us, reflect on the joy they brought us and be thankful for the time we had together. 

All in-memory names shared with us before the event will be included as part of in-memory display on the windows of the Sanctuary at the hospice throughout the festive period. The display will be available to view from Friday 12 December until the new year.  

You can also share photos and memories on our Heartfelt Memories page, an online space if you are unable to visit the hospice in person.  

On the night of the event, we will be joining together to each light a candle in remembrance of our loved ones. 

Everyone is welcome to attend the event. Your loved one doesn’t need to have been supported by Martlets for you to attend.

Children are also very welcome, although, please bear in mind there are quiet times to reflect and remember so this event may not be appropriate for very young children.

Dogs are not able to attend – apart from assistance dogs. Please let us know if you’ll be bringing an assistance animal with you when you make your booking (there is an option to share accessibility requirements on the form).

Light Up a Life is open to all, whether you have a faith or not. It is designed to be inclusive for everyone, offering a gentle and supportive space where people of all faiths and none can come together to reflect and remember. Members of our patient and family support services will be on hand should you wish to talk to someone. 

In place of a programme, names of loved ones being remembered will be displayed in the Sanctuary at Martlets. The display will be in place throughout the festive season, and supporters are warmly invited to visit and spend a quiet moment at a time that suits them.  

We understand that grief is not linear and that everyone mourns differently. If you’re unable to attend the event but would still like to remember your loved one, you are warmly welcome to come into the hospice at any time and make a dedication to them on the winter in memory display.

The display will be open from Friday 12 December until the new year. If you are unable to visit in person, you can make a dedication on our Heartfelt Memories page. This is a meaningful way to honour and reflect on your loved one in your own time and space.