The Leeds Rhinos Foundation in partnership with Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice are hosting the annual ‘Lights of Honour’ event at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Thursday 10th December, offering people the opportunity to come together to remember and make a special dedication to a person who has touched or inspired their life.
The first year of the event in 2014, saw players from the Leeds Rhinos squad including Mitch Achurch, Brad Singleton, Brett Delaney and Joel Moon join the evening as guest speakers along with readings from Phil Holmes, relative of the late Leeds Rugby Legend John Holmes and guest speakers from Wheatfields Hospice and the chance to sing-a-long to traditional carols, enjoy seasonal refreshments and mingle with players past and present.
This years event will once again remember lost loved ones with the ceremonial lighting of a Christmas tree, with each light on the tree symbolising an incredible person who has a special place in our hearts.
As part of the event, guests can also make a written dedication to honour their loved one, which will be displayed on the big screen at the Boxing Day Match as well as, kept in the Book of Honour at Headingley Stadium throughout 2016.
Attendees can also help raise funds for the hospice buying a selection of 2016 calendars, festive gifts and Christmas cards, and by entering the raffle with some signed Leeds Rhinos merchandise on offer, as well as making donations.
Speaking at the Lights of Honour event last year, event organiser Holly Buckley from Wheatfields Hospice said:
"The relationship we have with the Leeds Rhinos Foundation is by far the most important relationship we have at the hospice, being on our doorstep within walking distance, it means an awful lot in that respect, so many of the people that stay in our hospice already have a relationship with the Rhinos, by being able to promote our relationship is mutually beneficial, the relationship already this year has seen an income of £12,000 for the hospice, which put into context would pay for more than 100 hours of nursing care, which is just phenomenal for us"
This year’s event will once again be supported by members of the Leeds Rhinos squad with funds raised on the night through optional donations all supporting the hospice.
The event will start at 6pm in the Lewis Jones Suite, if you would like to join us at this festive event, please contact jessica.bowman@leedsrugby.com
Mike Lazenby, 31, was cared for at Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, but sadly passed away after fighting against bowel cancer. His mum and dad, Christine and Roger are supporters of Wheatfields Hospice and the Leeds Rugby Foundation and will remember Mike at the Lights of Honour in support of the hospice.
Below is Mike's Story as told by his parents Christine and Roger –
“Since the day of this terrible diagnosis, Mike started a long journey to try to fight this dreadful illness. He had radiotherapy and chemotherapy and was then referred to a hospital in Leeds, for surgery. When the outcome of the operation was not as straightforward as anticipated and complications set in, the consultant suggested that it might be beneficial for Mike to see a Doctor at Wheatfields Hospice.
We were not very keen on the idea. We weren’t sure a hospice could offer Mike the right environment as we imagined a hospice as a place for older people at the end of their lives. But we were wrong. Our visits to the hospice to see the Doctor and visits at home from one of Wheatfields’ community nurses, helped not just Mike, but also the rest of the family to deal with Mike’s illness.
Staff at Wheatfields hospice were able to give our son something priceless: quality of life, for as long as that was. Mike was a keen sports fan and the staff at the hospice were able to help Mike go to watch Leeds Rhinos with his sister Rachel by teaching him how to use a syringe driver to keep his pain under control.
We are so glad there are places like Sue Ryder Wheatfields hospice – a place where you can watch the rugby on the T.V. and groan at the ref’s decisions, a place where you can have a laugh and a joke with your friends, a place where you feel special as staff take the time to talk with you and make sure you are all right.
Mike was a regular ‘South Stander’ and got a lot of enjoyment from watching the Rhinos. He would have been over the moon at them winning the Treble this year. Remembering Mike at the Leeds Rugby Foundation Lights of Honour brings together his love of Rugby League and our support for Wheatfields, who helped him to attend those last matches.”