Be a Star for Your Hospice this Christmas
St Elizabeth Hospice has announced the return of its annual Christmas appeal, Be a Star, for 2026.
Every Christmas, the hospice provides vital care to more than 1,300 people living with progressive and life-limiting illnesses, and their families, across East & Mid Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney; for many, it will be their last Christmas spent together.
Through its Be a Star appeal, which is sponsored by Astral Global Logistics, the independent Suffolk charity is encouraging the community to support the hospice this Christmas and help staff ensure patients and families create precious moments together.
Ellie Main, Associate Director of Fundraising and Supporter Engagement, said: “Every Christmas, we support patients and their families to create special memories and share precious moments during the festive season.
“Our care is provided at our wards in Ipswich and at Beccles Hospital, as well as in people’s homes across East and Mid-Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney. We’re here to provide support wherever and whenever it’s needed.
“By supporting our Be a Star appeal, you can help make a difference to local people and their families who need our care when it matters most this Christmas, while helping us turn Christmas generosity into local hospice care all year round.”
From purchasing Christmas cards in St Elizabeth Hospice shops or via the online store, to joining festive fundraising events such as the Christmas Day Dip and Silent Jingle Bell Jog, or even volunteering time as a New Year’s resolution, there are many ways to take part in Be a Star.
Every action helps make the festive season a special and memorable time for local people receiving care from the hospice.
One person who knows the importance of St Elizabeth Hospice’s care at Christmas is Carla Harris, whose mum, Tina Tye, received support from the charity during Christmas 2024, before her death in January 2025.
“From the moment we were told there was nothing more the doctors could do, we knew it would be our last Christmas together with Mum,” explained Carla.
“On Christmas Day, they gave us a proper Christmas meal and our two best friends were able to join us for lunch, where we exchanged gifts. It was such a lovely thing for the hospice to do.
“The hospice’s services are so important all year-round, but even more so during the festive period when being together family and loved ones is something we all cherish.
“By supporting the hospice’s Be a Star appeal, you will be helping people in your local community be together this Christmas with the support of St Elizabeth Hospice.”
“The hospice helped make our Christmas so special and enabled us to be together as a family beside Mum.
“She even had her own decorations in her room, just as she would at home, creating a little festive grotto.
“On Christmas Eve, the hospice staff let the children sprinkle reindeer dust outside Mum’s room so that Father Christmas would know where Nanny was and be able to deliver presents to her.
“While on Christmas Day itself, we arrived as a family and spent the day with Mum in her room. Her grandchildren opened their presents in front of her so she could watch from her bed.
“St Elizabeth Hospice helped our family create so many positive Christmas memories. The festive atmosphere and the way everything was done made it feel like Christmas in every sense. I cannot thank the hospice enough for that.
“Christmas is a very hard time of year when you have lost someone. That is why it feels even more important that our community continues to support St Elizabeth Hospice in whatever way they can over the festive period.”
Brynley Ward, Owner of Astral Global Logistics, said: “Over the years, I have known many people who have been supported by the hospice team.
“Having seen first-hand the difference this care makes, I understand how important St Elizabeth Hospice is to our community, particularly during some of the most uncertain and difficult times in people’s lives.
“As a local business, it’s a pleasure for Astral Global Logistics to be able to give something back and help raise vital funds to support other families over the Christmas period and in the future.
“We are proud to be sponsoring this year’s Be a Star Christmas appeal and the team and I will be at Felixstowe for the Christmas Day Dip, cheering on all the brave dippers!”
