Our News

As online Christmas shopping soars, celebrate someone special as you browse the 'aisles'

20 November 2008

In 2007 74% of people in the UK intended to use the internet in some way for their Christmas shopping* as more people wanted to avoid the queues for at least part of their festive purchasing, and the number is set to rise during the coming season.  This year British internet users are planning to spend 40% of their Christmas shopping budget online**.  So while these shoppers are already online Sue Ryder Care is encouraging them to click onto their website and take time out to celebrate someone special in their lives with their Lights of Love Christmas Appeal, which is being supported by Songs of Praise presenter Pam Rhodes. 

In the run up to Christmas, Sue Ryder Care is inviting people nationwide to celebrate someone who lights up their life and help raise vital funds for the healthcare charity.

Sue Ryder Care will be celebrating how precious memories are by giving people the opportunity to make dedications to loved ones and attend a host of festive, Lights of Love themed events that will be held across the country throughout the lead up to Christmas. 

Gemma Buttimer, Lights of Love Fundraising Manager explained: “People can dedicate a Light of Love for someone they care about online at http://lightsoflove.suerydercare.org, which will be seen as a star in a virtual sky of dedications.”   

“Or if they don’t have access to the internet they can take part by making a donation in one of Sue Ryder Care’s 370 shops in return for a Lights of Love Christmas star. They can then write a dedication message on the back and hang it on their tree at home.  If they’d like their loved ones names included in the Lights of Love Book of Celebration, they can also pick up a leaflet and fill in the name of the person they’d like to celebrate.  We are encouraging people who are keen to dedicate a Light of Love to give a donation of their choice to Sue Ryder Care.”

Sue Ryder Care is also urging people to pop into their nearest Sue Ryder Care shop whilst they’re Christmas shopping on the high street to browse through a specially designed Lights of Love gift range.  The range includes an array of fabulous stocking fillers to delight loved ones with on Christmas day.    

All money raised from donations and the sale of Lights of Love gift items will go directly to help Sue Ryder Care continue to deliver expert and compassionate care to people living with conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, Stroke and Parkinson’s Disease.

Pam Rhodes, who is best known for presenting BBC1’s Songs of Praise and is a keen supporter of Sue Ryder Care, says, “I am delighted to support Sue Ryder Care’s Lights of Love appeal - it is a wonderful way to remember a loved one who may no longer be with us and also to celebrate a life that is still shining brightly.  In the run up to the festive season, people’s thoughts often turn to their loved ones, families and friends – dedicating a Light of Love is a way in which people can celebrate treasured memories and time spent together.
 
“This Christmas, my Lights of Love star will most definitely be dedicated to my Mum who died earlier this year.  She was my best friend for the whole of my life, so this Christmas will feel very odd without her.  That star will be a reminder of how dearly she's still loved.”
 
Pam added, “And, of course, as well as remembering and celebrating loved ones, by getting involved in Lights of Love people can help raise much needed money to help a wonderful charity, Sue Ryder Care, continue to deliver the best level of quality care to people that need it most.”

For further information about Lights of Love visit http://lightsoflove.suerydercare.org  for all of the up-to-the-minute news. 

*The Deloitte Annual Christmas Retail Survey 2007 (undertaken by TNS on behalf of Deloitte)
** Twenga (online shopping search engine)

< Back