Time to Light Up A Life for Wirral Hospice St John's this weekend

Ten thousand bulbs will be switched on in memory of loved ones during the Globe-backed ceremony which takes place in the hospice gardens on Sunday.

It starts at 5.30pm.

Each of the lights have been sponsored by our readers in memory of a loved one.

They will be switched on by ten-year-old Ella and Yvie Thompson, seven, in memory of mum Christine.

The former dental nurse from West Kirby died from Ocular Melanoma, a rare form of cancer, in February.

During treatment, she had spent two weeks at the hospice.

Ella and Yvie will switch on the lights to thank hospice staff for their mum's care.

Urging our readers to support the appeal, Christine's husband Greg told the Globe recently: "I don't think a lot of people are actually aware of the work the hospice does, so Light Up A Life is one of the best ways to support it.

"Speaking from our experience, the staff are brilliant, offering bereavement support."

Christine was initially diagnosed with the disease seven years ago, was treated for it and it was thought had beaten it.

But the disease came back in February last year.

Melanoma usually develops in the skin and can start in other places, such as the eye. Very rarely, melanoma starts in the conjunctiva, the outer lining of the eye.

Christine, 46, was a dental nurse at Springfield Dental Surgery in Newton for 18 years.

She gave up the job to become a full-time mum following the birth of Yvie.

She later worked as a mid-day supervisor at St Bridget's School in West Kirby.

Her funeral took place at nearby St Bridget's church, attended by more than 100 people.

Paying tribute, Greg continued: "She was a very strong person, very loyal.

"Nothing was too much trouble. Her friends were very important to her and she went out of her way to help.

"Her friends were amazing throughout her illness; always there to help. I can't ever thank them enough."

The names of those remembered will feature in books of honour that will be on display in the hospice chapel.

Sunday's switch-on will be followed by a remembrance service at St James' Church in New Brighton on Tuesday, December 8 at 7pm.

This is free to attend, but places must be reserved in advance.

A Book of Honour showing the names of loved ones will be on display in the hospice chapel from switch-on day and every day in the lead up to Christmas.

More than 3,000 people attended last year's switch-on, which raised £100,000 for hospice running costs.

Julia Evans, fundraising events manager for the hospice, told the Globe: "I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported Light Up A Life over the years and hope that support is even stronger this year.

"Every year we always aim to raise £100,000 from the light switch on.

"It's thanks to the public support that we achieve that every year."