Local families can celebrate the memories of their loved ones this Christmas, with a touching, alternative light switch on at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice.

The charity will be hosting its seasonal ‘Light up a Life’ ceremony on Thursday 13 December, creating an evening of music, celebration and remembrance.

Taking place at the Hospice in Selly Park, the event will see BBC WM’s Richard Wilford switch on the charity’s Christmas tree lights, with lights symbolising the lives of those who are sadly no longer with us.

Alongside the switch on, there will be live musical performances from local school choir Colmore Juniors as well as the Uptone Girls – a student choir from the University of Birmingham who represented the city in BBC One’s ‘Pitch Battle’.

For the first time this year, there will be an opportunity to honour loved ones before the event, in the Hospice’s online ‘Book of Remembrance’. The online book will be filled with tributes to people and anyone who makes a dedication will be able to share the book with their family and friends. There will also be a physical book displayed at the ceremony.

Richard Wilford, presenter at BBC WM, said: “It’s a real honour to be hosting Light up a Life for the second time at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice. It really is an uplifting and celebratory event and it’s a heart-warming way to bring local people together and honour the memories of their loved ones.

“I’ll be remembering my colleague and much-loved BBC WM presenter Ed Doolan at this year’s event. Ed was a big supporter of the Hospice – and regularly hosted the Light up a Life ceremony – so it feels a fitting tribute to celebrate his legacy this year.”

Birmingham St Mary’s chief executive, Tina Swani, added: “Christmas is a time of celebration and joy but it can also be a really difficult time for anyone who has experienced loss. At Light up a Life, we want to give people an opportunity to remember their special someone in a unique and heartfelt way.”

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice provides vital care to people and their families who are living with life-limiting illness. Its Light up a Life is part of the Hospice’s ‘Care at Christmas’ campaign – a festive appeal that aims to increase support for the charity leading up to and over the Christmas period.

It will cost £22,000 to run the Hospice on Christmas Day and so all donations from this event will make a big difference to the local families the Hospice supports over the festive season.

The Hospice will be hosting two remembrance events on Thursday 13 December, with an afternoon event starting at 5.30pm and an evening one at 7.30pm. The Hospice is based at 176 Raddlebarn Road, Selly Park, Birmingham, B29 7DA.