Tree of Joy lit up by bereaved brothers

Friday 25 November 2022

Three boys who lost their mum to cancer earlier this year were asked to turn on the Christmas lights at the Weighbridge Mast this week.

Jake Jones, Joseph Hillier, and Shaymus Hillier, pushed the button last night and lit up the Tree of Joy.

Their mum, Chloe Hillier died aged 39 in August.

She had been diagnosed with colon cancer, and her mother, Heidi Strobl hopes her death will encourage other people to seek early diagnosis if any symptoms occur.

Chloe's sons, aged 13, 7, and 6, were nominated to turn on the Tree of Joy lights by the Sunflower Project which is run by the Youth Commission. It supports children and teenagers who suffer a bereavement.

Pictured: The Sunflower Project is run by The Youth Commission.

The lights on the Weighbridge mast serve as a focal point for the Rotary Club's Tree of Joy present giving campaign.

The Club arranges for donated gifts to be disributed among local children who might be deserving of an extra present at Christmas.

A Rotary Club spokesperson said: "Even in our relatively prosperous community, there will always be families who are suffering financially, for a variety of reason. This year this might well be particularly poignant following the Covid pandemic and the rise in the cost of living. Our wish is to try to ensure that the children in these families still receive a present to open on Christmas morning."

Tthe Rotary Club also thanked its sponsors - Butterfield, PWC and Guernsey Energy. 

Pictured top: Tree of Joy 2021 (Chris Russell) and inset: Jake Jones; aged 13, Shaymus Hillier; aged 6, and Joseph Hillier; aged 7.