This year, the Hospice chose not to opt for a disposable Christmas tree and instead decided to plant one as a permanent Tree of Lights feature in their grounds. MTS Group was asked to help and was only too happy to quickly lay on a new Bobcat T40140 14 m telehandler free-of-charge, which manoeuvred the tree into position for planting.

MTS Bobcat Sales Executive, Alistair Russell, also joined in to help the other volunteers to plant the tree safely in the Hospice grounds.

Now in place, it is intended that the new Tree of Lights will play a central role each year as part of the Hospice's annual Light up a Life Appeal, when local people are invited to sponsor a light on the tree to honour the memory of a loved one who has passed away. Held over three days in December, the Light up a Life Appeal is based around community services held at the Hospice itself, at the neighbourhood St Peter and St Paul's Church and ending with two services at Wakefield Cathedral, with every sponsored light being illuminated during each of the services.

You can donate to Wakefield Hospice here