Pink Pages     MyLocalHero 2022     Advertise with us     

BreakingYourLocalNews

GOOD NEWS: Hemel charity’s festive switch on to go ahead

 Published on: 16th November 2020   |   By: Amneet Kaur   |   Category: Uncategorized

The founders of a charity who have an annual Christmas lights display have stressed it will still go ahead this year despite COVID-19.

The charity was founded eight years ago after founders Paul Cruickshanks and wife Helen, who live in Leverstock Green, lost their six-week old daughter to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. 

Paul said he is looking to have the lights on by November 28.

Speaking to HemelNews, he mentioned: “Macy was our third child. She was born perfectly with no issues but unfortunately became ill very quickly. Macy spent all of the run up to Christmas in intensive care where my wife lived with her.

“Christmas was the last thing on our minds and it was whilst we were sat with Macy in ITU that we realised we had bought no Christmas presents and hadn’t even put our tree up.

“I made it my mission to decorate the house and try to make things a bit more normal and exciting for our other children who were desperately missing their little sister and mum.”  

Sadly Macy died just before Christmas on December 20, 2012. 

Paul added: “Christmas will always be a difficult time for us. I decided that I would continue making it a bit more special by decorating our house bigger and better every year. 

“The local neighbours were so positive about it and even started donating money and suggesting we have a donation box. 

“This year will obviously be a little different due to COVID-19 so we are running a computer synchronised light display with music that can be viewed at a safe distance to adhere to current guidelines. 

“We have a lightning McQueen theme this year which will be incorporating my lightning themed Team Macy Escort Cosworth.  

“We have thousands of lights and handmade props.We even have a ‘thank you NHS’ part of the display. Which is obviously heartfelt for us after everything they did for Macy.”

Team Macy has raised nearly £90,000 and most of this has gone to the genetic research into congenital heart disorders. 

Sign up to get weekly local news updates & offers:

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

0 Comments

Leave a comment

*

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Advertise with our magazine
Top