Middlesbrough’s Christmas festivities get under way this with a spectacular Lights Switch On event in Centre Square.

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS PARTY AT NORTH ORMESBY HUB

Exciting launch for Cast of Middlesbrough Cinderella Panto Production.

SOUTH Tees Hospitals NHS Foundations Trust’s palliative care team has once again teamed up Our Hospitals Charity to offer people the opportunity to remember a loved one by hanging a personalised bauble on their Christmas trees.

Each year, the trust’s Christmas trees at The James Cook University Hospital and the Friarage Hospital are decorated with beautiful baubles that people have dedicated to a friend or family member.

Each bauble has a feather inside it along with a heartfelt personalised tribute for someone who has died in James Cook or the Friarage.

As well as paying tribute to their loved ones, people who hang a bauble on the trees are also helping other families going through similar experiences.

All the money raised from the baubles goes towards buying items for the palliative care team’s Dragonfly Scheme.

This scheme allows the team to provide comfort bags and memory boxes, which are given to the relatives of patients receiving end of life care to help them cope at such a difficult time.

Laura Devereux, Macmillan palliative support sister, said: “This Christmas if you’re missing someone special who died at James Cook or the Friarage our dedicated memorial trees give you the opportunity to pay tribute for a small contribution.

“We know all too well that a lot of families lose someone close to their heart every day.

“We hope it gives those who add a tribute to our trees comfort in knowing that the money raised from the baubles helps other families experiencing the heartache of saying goodbye to their loved one.”

Make your dedication online today

If you would like to pay tribute to a loved one you can do this via our JustGiving page – www.justgiving.com/campaign/OHCMemorialChristmasTree

The team ask for a minimum donation of £2.50 per bauble.