Folkestone festive lights help raise funds

A Folkestone family is bringing some extra Christmas cheer with a fundraising festive lights display.

The Knight family is collecting donations from people who visit their Christmas lights in Canada Close, and will give them to East Kent Hospitals Charity to benefit the neonatal intensive care unit at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

They have previously raised money for the hospital’s children’s ward, as well as the critical care unit, where staff saved daughter Jade’s life when she contracted Covid-19.

Jade, 31, said: “The staff at the hospital are absolutely fantastic and raising money is our way of saying thank you to them.

“This year we decided to support the NICU because they care for some of the sickest babies.

“It must be awful to have your baby in hospital at Christmas, or any time, so we hope we can raise money to help make the experience a little better for them.”

The family have been using their annual lights display to raise money for charities for eight years, but started fundraising for the hospital after Jade was treated there during the pandemic.

Usually dad Paul starts putting the lights up in September, but this year the wet weather meant the display was assembled in just two weeks.

It is lit up throughout December from around 5pm to 9.30pm, and every child who visits will receive a small gift, whether they make a donation or not.

The family were supported by Sign Graphics, who donated a banner advertising the charity collection.

Dee Neligan, head of charity at East Kent Hospitals Charity, said: “We are so grateful to the Knight family for choosing us to benefit from the donations they collect again this year.

“Their lights display always helps brighten up the dark December days, and I know the donations they collect will help bring a smile to families in our NICU and help make their Christmas a little brighter.”