Shine your light during Beacon of Light month

Throughout the month of June people are being encouraged to take part in a new fundraising initiative which not only raises money for charity but also helps to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones who have been lost over the past year.

Their passing has left many people grief-stricken throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Now they are being asked to take on a challenge in memory of those taken to show that life still goes on despite their loss and that they will do their best to live life to the fullest despite missing them.

Money raised from each individual event, which can be anything from a run to a walk and a skydive to even sitting in a bath of baked beans, will go to the My WiSH Charity, which enhances the care patients at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust receive and includes the West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket Community Hospital and the community services.

The Beacon of Light Challenge runs from June 1 to 30 with the message to unite, remember, celebrate and shine a light in their honour.

It’s a chance for people to achieve their goal and they can choose whichever way they want to raise the money.

Sally Daniels, the fundraising manager for My WiSH, said: “One person’s goal is totally inaccessible to another, so we want you to decide what will be a challenge for you. You choose your method and goal. Have you taken up a new sport and want to reach a target, have you been ill and want to have an aim to help you with your recovery or is there just something you have always wanted to achieve?

“It’s a great opportunity for everyone to get involved and get a little active and creative and to fundraise for your local NHS Charity.”

When you start your fundraising, you can choose the area of the hospital you wish to support. This could be one of the appeals set up by My WiSH Charity, a ward or a department who have taken care of you or a loved one, or you could donate to the general fund so care is enhanced at the hospital.

And when you have completed your challenge the charity is asking people to shine their Beacon of Light either by a phone or candle and reflect on your loved one and towards a different future.

You can also share and promote your fundraising initiative on social media by sharing photos and information with My WiSH, by using the hashtag #BeaconofLight21, and the charity will light up your challenge via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To sign up for the challenge go to www.mywishcharity.co.uk