While many people are just beginning to think about Christmas, for Graham Witter and his family their planning began back in the summer, as the family have already spent months preparing for this year’s Weston Christmas Light Display.
This December, the family will once again transform their family home into a magical Winter Wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights and decorations, to raise money for The Donna Louise Hospice for Children and Young People.
This is the seventh year that Graham has organised the display, in memory of his sister, Jessica, who had a great fascination for colour, light and sound and received respite care at The Donna Louise Hospice.
Over the last six years, he has raised a breath-taking £92,310 for the families, like his, who rely on The Donna Louise for a range of care, support and respite services. And, thanks to Graham’s hard work, and months of planning, the Weston Christmas Light Display gets bigger, better and more animated every year with tens of thousands of bulbs across the display including almost two thousand on the Christmas tree alone!
Graham said, “Although it takes months of hard work to organise, plan and erect the display, as well as night after night standing outside throughout December, I can honestly say that I absolutely love doing this community event. It makes me really proud to know that the light display will support so many local families who use The Donna Louise and is something organised in December that sits in the heart of our local community.
“I particularly enjoy all the planning and it’s always exciting to come up with new ideas to make the display better and more creative each year. I also enjoy working closely with many local businesses and building partnerships that will help ensure the continued success of the light display. This year I’m delighted that many local businesses are continuing to support the light display and I feel that this demonstrates they are very proud to be involved with my fundraising efforts.”
The event is now a festive favourite in the diaries of many local families, and last year more than 15,000 people visited the display throughout December, helping Graham to raise a phenomenal £26,760!
The opening evening for this year’s light display will be on Sunday 1st December at 6.15pm. This year’s light spectacular is promised to be even bigger and better than ever before, as visitors will be able to have a #sleighselfie with Santa, enjoy the festive music, visit Santa’s Grotto and indulge on a #festiveicecream!
Simon Fuller, Chief Executive of The Donna Louise, added, “Over the last six years Graham’s support for The Donna Louise Hospice has been truly outstanding. He’s raised more than £92,000 through his hard work, time and dedication to the Weston Christmas Light Display, which has made a huge difference to hundreds of local families.
“I visited the Light Display myself for the first time last year and was totally blown away by just how much effort goes in to it by Graham and all his amazing volunteers. I’ll be attending again for this year’s lights switch on and I’m really looking forward to it. I hope the local community will once again support Graham to make this year’s event another huge success.”
The Weston Light Display will shine bright between 1st – 28th December (6.15pm-9pm) at Carters Green Farm, Jack Lane, Weston. For more information email: [email protected].
