Light up a Life with St Barnabas Hospice

Light up a Life

Dedicate a light in memory of a loved one

We invite you to dedicate a light this Christmas, and allow someone’s memory to shine brightly on our Tree of Life outside Lincoln Cathedral. You can remember anyone, not just those cared for by the Hospice. Every donation for a light brings care, dignity, and comfort to local families – and ensures St Barnabas is here for generations to come.

Our Tree of Life is illuminated during the festive period, and will be officially switched on at our Torchlight Procession. If you dedicate your light on or before 19th December, we will send a personalised card, a memory tag for the Tree of Life, and a decoration for you to display in your own home.

As we reflect on the last 25 years of this appeal, we must also be honest about the challenges we face. More families than ever need our support, and rising costs make it harder to provide care. But together, we can make sure no-one faces life’s toughest moments alone.

Dedicate your light

Torchlight Procession

Celebrate 25 years of the Torchlight Procession with a £25 dedication in memory of a loved one. This special milestone comes during a challenging year – your continued support means so much.

Now marking its 25th year, this poignant event – unique to our hospice and our county – has grown from 100 people and a lone piper to over 1,000 led by the RAF Waddington Pipe Band, gathering to light the Tree of Life.

An opportunity for families and friends to join together and honour loved ones, our annual Torchlight Procession sees over 1000 people walk the historic streets of Lincoln with torches lit in remembrance. Taking place on Tuesday 18th November 2025, the procession is a short walk to the Cathedral, past the Hospice on Nettleham Road.

Photo by Kurnia Aerial Photography.

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Sheila's Story

Christmas is never the same without my husband, but it warms my heart to have a light shining brightly in his memory.

Malc and I loved each other very much. When he was first diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer in 2018, we knew life would never be the same. All the team at St Barnabas go above and beyond with their excellent care.

Malc was given dignity, and they helped him with his sense of humour – they just kept him going. I knew that I could go home, and he would be in safe hands. I don’t know how I would have done it without them. I’ll be dedicating a light this year in his memory – helping the hospice care for people in the future, like Malc.

Read the full story

More touching stories

“All the team got Caroline smiling, even when she was at her lowest. They treated her with so much dignity and respect, and looked after her in more ways than I could have ever imagined.”
Suzanne Sheppard

A young man and a women, sat on a sofa, within their home. Being held by the man is a picture of a woman, his mother.

“Philly's final month with us provided endless moments of laughter, deep reflection, and the incredible gift of goodbye. St Barnabas' care allowed us one last miracle period and we will be forever grateful. ”
Finn Dillon

“The whole process of losing my dad was heartbreaking, but the staff at St Barnabas Hospice made the worst time so much easier. The only way to describe the nurses at the Hospice are literal angels. ”
Sophie Butcher

“When Pete passed away, a St Barnabas nurse was with me within five minutes. They look after you and you feel part of their family. They kept me going and I couldn’t have managed without them.”
Ann Gregory

“John was at the Hospice when the Torchlight Procession took place. Nurses and patients came outside, and the doors were left open so that other patients on the ward, like my John, could still hear the pipe band.”
Margaret Norton

Members, of the Lyon family, together at Lincoln Cathedral, holding photographs of Sharon, who was cared for by the hospice before she passed away.

“Every member of staff showed love and care not just to Sharon but also to us as a family. Their kindness touched our hearts and really made the whole unbearable situation easier.”
The Lyon's Family

“Christine only received care from St Barnabas for one day, but they really did make such a difference in her final hours. Two years on, they are still making a difference to me. They even send a card on the anniversary of Christine’s passing.”
Terry Wright

“Every year at Christmas, I’d go round to Mum’s house and we would wrap all the presents. I don’t remember a year when we didn’t decorate the tree together. I always buy a Christmas candle which we light for her.”
Caroline Swindin

“When I spoke to mum, who volunteered in the Inpatient Unit for 25 years, she said “I want to go to St Barnabas; I want to be with my second family.” It meant absolutely everything to her that she could spend her last few days there. ”
Steve Norton

How to participate

Dedicate a light

Dedicate a light in memory of a loved one, which will shine brightly on the Tree of Life outside Lincoln Cathedral with thousands of others.

Dedicate your light

Book the Torchlight Procession

Join us on the 18th November and walk alongside others, carrying flaming torches in memory of loved ones.

Purchase your ticket

The people behind this project…

Thank you to the Birch family at Doddington Hall & Gardens who have donated our Tree of Life for over 20 years!

Thank you to the Subdean and Chapter of Lincoln Cathedral for blessing and hosting our Tree of Life.

Thank you to local letting agents, HomeLet, for their generous support towards our Torchlight Procession 2024.

Thank you to Taylor Lindsey Ltd. for the continuous support in allowing us to use Claytons Sports Ground again this year.

Thank you to the Royal Air Force Waddington Pipe Band for their continuous support in playing at and leading our Torchlight Procession.

Thank you to Annie Griffith and her community choirs for performing at the Lincoln Cathedral at our Torchlight Procession.

Thank you to Lincoln Christ's Hospital School for providing car parking for The Torchlight Procession.

Thank you to S Lyon and Son Haulage for once again collecting our Tree of Life to bring to Lincoln Cathedral.

Thank you to G Wootton Tree Services, established forestry contractors for supporting with our tree removal.

Thank you to The Tower Hotel for providing soup and mulled wine at The Torchlight Procession.

Thank you to Flying Hire Ltd. for their generous donation of lighting equipment to support our Torchlight Procession.

Thank you to City of Lincoln Council Maintenance Services for putting up and taking down the Tree of Life year after year.

Thank you to Davis Trackhire, the UK’s Largest Independent Suppliers of Aluminium Trackway, for providing pedestrian walkways and ground protection.

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