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Charitable Amy helps Light Up Christmas for the NHS

The NHS Charity for North Wales, Awyr Las, has launched a real and digital lighting display, ‘Light Up Christmas’ to mark the end of this very different year, and 7 year old Amy Ishmael was selected to have the honour of switching on the lights in recognition of her support for the NHS this year.

Amy, from Penrhosgarnedd, turned on the 2,000 ‘Light Up Christmas’ lights display on Bangor Pier this evening. The lights will now shine for everyone in Bangor and the surrounding area to enjoy from 5pm to 10pm every night until 28th December. ‘Light Up Christmas’ has seen people from across North Wales shining a Light on someone or a group of people they want to show appreciation for. Hundreds of people have given a £10 donation, to dedicate a light to someone who has made a difference in their life, and people can continue to do so until 28th December. All donations are supporting the Covid-19 Appeal for North Wales, Team Irfon, the cancer care fund, and Dementia Services in Ysbyty Gwynedd.

Becky Williams, a mental health nurse and co-founder of Team Irfon says:

“The aim of ‘Light Up Christmas’ is to add a bit of sparkle to everyone’s Christmas this year. Many of us will be able to see the lights from a distance, and hopefully the sentiment behind it will make people remember they are not alone. Like me, I know that lots of people have got a lot out of dedicating a light to loved ones that are no longer here. It’s also a great way of recognising someone that’s made a difference this year, as so many have: neighbours, NHS staff, other key workers, friends and family members.

“I was brought to tears reading through the ‘Light Up Christmas’ Wall of lights online, some of the messages are beautiful, and am just so pleased that the wonderful Amy could be the one to officially turn on the lights. The money raised will help make a real difference for patients and for staff by helping to fund additional services, special projects, additional equipment and new facilities.”

Amy, from Penrhosgarnedd, was chosen to turn on the ‘Light Up Christmas’ display after she decided to raise money by making a wishing well which she placed outside her house during the first lockdown earlier this year. Amy encouraged passers-by to make a wish and donate at the same time, raising £200 for the Covid-19 Appeal and Team Irfon through the donations thrown into her wishing well.

Amy’s father, taxi driver Mike Ismael says,

“The wishing well proved to be a welcome and very positive distraction for both Amy and for our local community. We’re very proud of her for wanting to help others and we were delighted to hear that she’d been chosen to turn on the lovely ‘Light Up Christmas’ display on Bangor Pier.

“I know that some of the lights have been donated by Bangor City Council, GreenWood Forest Park and Mad Sound, and that the team who work on the Pier have been working in all weather to set up the lights. It’s testament to the hard work of the NHS here in North Wales that so many of us, from my seven year old daughter to local businesses, want to give back and show our appreciation for what they are doing and help them give vulnerable patients even better care.

The ‘Light Up Christmas’ display of over 2,000 lights on Bangor Pier can be seen from 5:30pm to 10pm from 18th – 28th December. You can make your own dedication to someone special here: https://awyrlas.org.uk/light-up-christmas, and you can read the Wall of lights here: https://awyrlas.org.uk/lights-1.