This Friday, December 16th, the Rotary Club of Waterford launches its 19th annual Memorial Christmas Tree at 12 noon at John Robert’s Square in Waterford City.
The Memorial Tree Appeal, officially launched by Santa and his Elves will, as always, be a central feature in Waterford City’s Winterval Festival.
This Christmas though, the Waterford public will have two ways to remember their loved ones. They can of course call to the Memorial Tree in John Roberts Square as always, but this year they can also post their memory on line via the Waterford hospice and Rotary Club websites.
Mr. Ger Sheridan, President of the Rotary Club of Waterford said, “For 19 years the Rotary Club of Waterford Memorial Christmas Tree has been central to Christmas in Waterford. Most of us have been touched by the wonderful work Waterford Hospice does in our community. This year we have added a virtual tree to facilitate donations.”
From Friday the Waterford public can purchase ribbons in John Roberts Square, or right now purchase a light and record a memory by visiting www.waterfordhospice.ie/memorialtree.
The Memorial Tree will open this Friday December 16th at 12 noon and open every day from then until December 24th from12 noon until 5.30pm daily.
In 1998 the first Christmas Memorial Tree appeal was established by the Rotary Club of Waterford to help raise funds for the development of a 20 bed Regional Palliative Care Unit on the grounds of University Hospital Waterford. To date the initiative has raised nearly half a Million Euro for Waterford Hospice.
As well as raising much needed funds in Waterford for the Hospice Movement, the Memorial Tree Appeal provides people with a means of remembering their loved ones in a dignified and meaningful manner. Indeed over the years the Christmas Memorial Tree Appeal has become synonymous with the celebration of Christmas in Waterford and enjoys widespread support from the public.