MAKING memories and commemorating loved ones is proving to be a popular theme for Nightingale House’s unique Build A Balloon campaign.

The Wrexham hospice, which provides free palliative care for local people, is building its’ very own hot air balloon to celebrate 25 years of caring for those with life-limiting illnesses.

After a year of lockdown one family can’t wait for their annual holiday gathering in North Wales - so much so it’s the image on their very own panel as a reminder of good times ahead. Feet on the beach depicts Val Gillet’s family’s feet on the sand at Tal-Y-Bont, as a timely reminder that it won’t be long until they can all holiday together again.

Val, of Coedpoeth, said: “I love this photograph of our feet on the beach, it reminds me of happy times when we could all be together and be a family post-lockdown.

“I wanted to sponsor a panel on the balloon to support the excellent work the hospice does in our communities and for me the fond memories we have of us all together on holiday seemed the perfect image. Hopefully it won’t be too long until we can get together again.”

Val is also part of a Ladies Wine Group - a group of 14 friends who’ve been meeting weekly via Zoom since March last year. The ladies also wanted to sponsor a panel and chose the words 'Ladies Wine, Flying High Together in 2021' as a symbol of their friendship and optimism for when they meet again face to face.

She added: “As a group we often help fundraise for various charities. We all agreed that supporting Nightingale House’s Build A Balloon Campaign would be a great opportunity to celebrate us as a group. In normal times we’d meet every month in someone’s house but when lockdown happened we started doing our weekly Zoom calls.”

Ladies Wine paid £25 for their exclusive panel but raised a total of £150, with the remainder being made as a donation to Nightingale House.

Sarah Povey, fundraiser for Nightingale House, said: “The image and slogan Val and her friends have selected for their exclusive panels are great examples of hope and happy times to come.

"As so many of our face to face events have been cancelled we believe that our unique Build A Balloon campaign is a great way for supporters to celebrate or commemorate loved ones. We are grateful for the kind support given by Val and the Ladies Wine Group and excited to see their completed panels on our balloon in the summer.”

The Nightingale House Build A Balloon campaign closes on April 30 and is due to go into production in late spring.

If you would like to sponsor a panel you can go online and complete the form at www.nightingalehouse.co.uk/event/build-a-balloon/ before the end of April.