MOUNTBATTEN'S annual Light up a Life campaign (formerly Lights of Love) launched this week with thousands of Islanders receiving a personal invitation to dedicate a light on the Mountbatten Remembrance Tree.

Isle of Wight residents are being urged to take time to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have died and make a donation in memory of someone who will not be with them this Christmas.

Light up a Life is for everybody – not only for patients and families supported by Mountbatten. All are welcome to dedicate a light and attend Mountbatten’s Light up a Life service at 4pm on Sunday, December 2, at Mountbatten Hospice.

Last year, over £15,000 was raised to support Mountbatten’s work in caring for Islanders facing death, dying and bereavement.

Other Light up a Life services will be held throughout December in churches and venues across the Isle of Wight. Details are available at www.mountbatten.org.uk

They include a carol service at 6.30pm on Wednesday, December 19, at All Saints Church, Ryde.

Nigel Hartley, Mountbatten chief executive, said: "We are, as always, incredibly grateful to our community for giving Islanders the opportunity to come together and remember those who have died.

"If you are missing someone this Christmas, Light up a Life offers a way to remember them and show that just because someone is gone, they are not forgotten.

"Due to the rise in popularity of the service at Mountbatten and the decline in attendance at the service normally held at Newport Minster, the team at Mountbatten are focusing their efforts on the service at Mountbatten.

"We have responded to feedback from our community who wish to attend a bigger service in church and, this year, we are offering the opportunity for everyone to attend a carol service at All Saints’ Church, Ryde.

"We hope many of you will join us at any of these events to remember our loved ones together."