Lights of Love shine at Aspirus Riverview Hospital

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFHR / WIRI) – Families and loved ones gathered on a pleasant evening last week for the 24th annual tree lighting ceremony at Aspirus Riverview Hospital. The event brings community members of all ages together to remember lost loved ones and those fighting cancer. 

Chris Squire is Divisional President of the south and southwest Aspirus regions.

“ It’s just helping [to] remember, loved ones, people, we probably cared for that at some point was in a crisis, did have an acute need.” says Squire. “We’re here to celebrate their memory. Here to celebrate the thought of them as we go into the holiday season. And it’s exciting to do that and not be with people when they only have a crisis.”

WRPS students are involved every year

Students in the Wisconsin Rapids Public School District take part in this yearly event. All 6th graders from Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School write essays with a theme of “The Greatest Thing to Give.” The top three essays chosen by the Aspirus Health Foundation Board are read by the authors during the program.

6th grade English Language Arts Teacher Cara Johnson says she was impressed with how personal some of the essays were this year.

“ How personal some of them got and how meaningful, like some of them really dug in deep and shared some very personal stories and about hard times that their family has gone through, or times when their family has reached out and helped others in need.” says Johnson. “It’s great to see that they’re already helping other people in the community. But then [it’s] very touching to also hear some of the stories where they’ve been on the receiving end of that.”

Nora Staven was among the three 6th graders there to read their essays.

“It’s one of the biggest achievements I’ve made in school,” shared Staven.

The 3rd through 5th Grade Choir from Grove Elementary sang several songs for those in attendance. The elementary choir members were so excited, they asked to sing an extra song before the trees were lit. They enthusiastically agreed on The Chipmunk Song.

Annual event brings volunteers, employees, and community members together

Annmarie Ott is the Volunteer Coordinator at Aspirus. This was her first year as coordinator for Lights of Love.

“It really hits home with so many people because they’re honoring and remembering somebody near and dear to them or maybe multiple people near and dear to them, says Ott. “It’s an opportunity for them to bring that to heart in a community of like people, you know dealing with the same kind of emotions and feelings.”  

Ott said volunteers and staff look forward to the yearly lighting of the trees.

“So it’s just really really an opportunity between staff and the volunteers at the hospital to know that this community cares a lot and that the hospital as part of their philosophy cares a lot.” 

Lights of Love donations help patients

As stated on the Aspirus website, “Lights of Love donations benefit the Wisconsin Rapids Patient Assistance Fund, supporting critical health initiatives such as substance abuse recovery, behavioral and mental health services, patient comfort, food systems, and cancer care.”