Hospice of Mat-Su lights up a life

For many, the Christmas season is about giving and receiving presents and spending time with loved ones. For some, though, it is about remembering friends and family members who passed away.

Hospice of Mat-Su, an organization devoted to helping patients with terminal illnesses and their families, is once hosting "Light up a Life," a fund raiser that helps people remember loved ones they have lost.

For $15, a person can write the name of a loved one on a glitter-trimmed star, and hang it on one of two Hospice Christmas trees. One tree is located in the Cottonwood Creek Mall, and the other is located in the Koslosky Center in Palmer. It costs $25 for two stars, $35 for three stars or $50 for an angel, and children can hang a teddy bear for free.

There is also a gathering of remembrance scheduled at the Palmer Depot on Dec. 14, at 5:30 p.m., in which all the names on the trees will be read. It is a time for reflection and hope, and a time to remember friends and family.

"When we were setting up the trees last week, people came up to us and said, 'Oh, good, you are having the Hospice trees again this year,'" said Matt Nelson of Hospice of Mat-Su. "The awareness is great."

Last year, in its fifth year in the Valley, the Light up a Life trees had more than 200 names hung on them. Each year, the number of names on the trees has increased, and more and more people have turned out for the gathering of remembrance.

In its first year, the gathering of remembrance attracted only 25 people. Last year, five years later, nearly 200 people showed up.

It is one of the largest fund raisers for Hospice of Mat-Su, and it is part of a national fund-raising campaign.

"We try to use the money we raise to focus on medicine and medicinal purposes for our patients," said Babetta Daddino, the hospice manager. "We use it for medical equipment for people's homes, and for our bereavement program."

Nelson said all the money raised stays right here in the Valley.

"It all goes back into Valley Hospital, because they subsidize our program," Nelson said. "It goes to keep us in business and helping people."

Nelson said some people have a misconception about what Hospice of Mat-Su is for.

"Hospice is not about dying, it's about living and enjoying everything about the later stages in life," Nelson said. "We don't want people to think that we are only a place to go when they have given up hope. We are here for patients and families to enjoy the time they have together."

More than 20 Hospice of Mat-Su volunteers will be staffing tables at the two Christmas tree locations throughout the holiday season. The names will remain on the trees through Jan. 1.

People who purchase an ornament and hang it on the tree can have Hospice of Mat-Su send an acknowledgment of the gift to someone as well.

For more information about the Hospice of Mat-Su program, or about the Light up a Life fund raiser, interested people may call 352-4800. Hospice of Mat-Su is a service of Valley Hospital.