SOLIHULL residents are being called on to come together and remember those who have died during the pandemic on the anniversary of the first national lockdown.
The National Day of Reflection, led by end-of-life charity Marie Curie, is next Tuesday (March 23).
The charity hopes the day will bring the whole of the UK together to reflect on the nation’s collective loss, support those who have been bereaved, amid hope for a brighter future.
A heart of yellow and blue ribbons will be laid in the Solihull hospice grounds – each ribbon representing someone who has died in the hospice’s care, with a service led by Marie Curie Bereavement Lead, Jane Murray, at 11.30am.
The service will be streamed live on the Marsh Lane’s Facebook page.
On the day, Marie Curie is inviting everyone to take part in a minute’s silence at noon and to reflect.
Then at 8pm the charity is asking everyone to appear on their doorsteps with candles, torches or simply lights from their mobile phones, for a second minute’s silence, to show support and solidarity for the millions of people who have been bereaved due to Covid.
Supporting the National Day of Reflection is Shirley resident Susan Lowe, whose mum died in April 2020 after receiving community hospice support for bowel cancer from Marie Curie.
She said: “Terminal illness is still happening and it’s a really difficult thing to manage in normal times, let alone now. It’s horrendous.
“Families who’ve had to care for their relatives at home and who’ve had to grieve alone are just as vulnerable as those who’ve gone through the same thing because of Covid.
“That’s why I find Marie Curie’s call for a National Day of Reflection so relatable and so important.”
The National Day of Reflection takes place during Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal.
Every year, the Appeal raises money to help people at the end of life can get the care and support they need.
For more on the National Day of Reflection visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/dayofreflection.
To watch the service visit www.facebook.com/MarieCurie Hospice WestMidlands .
