Light Up the Sky in memory of your loved one
“It is often in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars.” – Richard Evans
Now in its fifth year, Light Up the Sky is a place where you can share your photos, poems and stories of someone who has died from an epilepsy-related death.
Every December we Light up the Sky with love and with memories to remember those we have lost and support others together. We know that this time of year can be one of the hardest times for anyone who has lost a loved one to epilepsy. The festive period is often a huge reminder of those who are missing from our lives and we look for ways in which we can remember them.
Jill Richards lost her son Laurence to SUDEP in January 2023, he was 27 years old. She shared a message on the Light Up the Sky memorial wall last year and plans to write another message this year. Jill said: “It does help when you are bereaved, no matter your bereavement… you need to talk about your person, you need to keep them alive, your memory alive… I want the world to know how special he is.” Jill also believes it is important for people to have somewhere to go or somewhere to share their bereavement.
Tracy Cowdry, Deputy CEO at SUDEP Action and our Bereavement Services Manager, said: “Light Up the Sky began from a need by our bereaved families to acknowledge and remember their loved ones. It is a place where people can come together as a community and share something special about those they have lost and remember them.”
Multiple tributes can be left to the same person, allowing anyone to create their own personalised dedication. You can also light a candle for someone as another way to show that you are thinking of them and to commemorate their life.
Follow the link here to the Light Up the Sky in Memory wall if you would like to leave a dedication to your loved one. You will be able to share a tribute from now until 10th January. There is no obligation to donate unless you would like to. No matter how small, each donation supports the work that we do and helps to provide much needed services for those bereaved as well as anyone living with the condition.
As we do every year, Sammy Ashby, our CEO, will also be lighting a candle on Christmas Eve so we can come together to remember anyone who has lost their life to epilepsy. Please look out for more information on our social media platforms.
