The Daily Echo has thrown its weight behind the appeal by three hospices to Light Up A Life.

The campaign offers the chance for anyone to dedicate a light on one of three Christmas trees in Poole, as a special memorial to a loved one.

A friend, relative, child or work colleague can receive a dedication, they do not have to have lived locally or be associated with any of the hospices.

Julia's House, Dorset children's hospice, at Corfe Mullen and Forest Holme and Lewis-Manning Hospice, both in Poole, have joined together to launch this appeal for the first time.

It is part of a national appeal to raise awareness of the UK's 240 hospices, which do such vital work in their communities.

Many celebrities have lent their support to the appeal, including broadcaster Michael Parkinson.

"Christmas is a time when people come together and it can be a difficult time for those who have lost someone," he said.

"Looking back and reflecting on the good times spent with them is a positive way to bring them closer to us."

All you need to do is cut out and fill in the voucher, include a donation, pop it in an envelope and send to the freepost address on the form.

The money raised will be split equally between the three charities.

Over the next three weeks the voucher will appear many more times in the Daily Echo and a supplement including all the names and dedications will be published on Wednesday December 19.

Forest Holme is a specialist palliative care unit in Seldown Road, Poole, part of the Dorset Cancer Centre at Poole Hospital.

It deals with the physical and psychological comfort of patients with complex needs and provides support and advice to carers, family and friends.

There are 10 beds where patients can go in the last days or weeks of life for help with symptom control, rehabilitation and care.

"Forest Holme provides a means of dealing with symptoms in a holistic way, within a calm environment," said Saskie Dorman, consultant in palliative medicine.

"Patients often feel more relaxed here than in a busy ward environment and the specialist staff have the time to spend with them."

The Hospital Palliative Care Team consists of two nurses, a staff physician and two consultants and there is also a specialist community team of seven nurses.

Forest Holme hosts out-patient clinics five times a week and provides counselling and support services for patients and families, including bereavement counselling.

The hospice accepts referrals for patients with complex problems associated with life-threatening illnesses, including people with cancer, heart failure, chronic chest conditions, chronic renal failure and motor neurone disease.

Friends of Forest Holme, an independent charity set up to raise funds, helps provide money for projects from extra nursing staff to TV/DVDs for every bed.

It has held a tree of lights appeal since 2002 and thanks to the Mayor of Poole, uses the tree at the Civic Centre.

A service will be held there on Wednesday November 28, when mayor Cllr Jeff Allen will light up the tree.

Lewis-Manning Hospice in Crichel Mount Road, Lilliput is set in beautiful grounds overlooking Poole Harbour.

It is the former home of businesswoman Marjorie Lewis-Manning, a dedicated fundraiser who raised £3 million for two body scanners for Poole Hospital.

The hospice opened its doors to patients in 1992 when the day care centre and lymphoedema clinic were started.

Since then it has expanded its services to local people with a breathing clinic, physiotherapy treatment and creative arts therapy.

It also works in partnership with Julia's House and in 2008 will be providing transitional care for young adults in Dorset with life-limiting illnesses.

More than 400 patients a year attend the specialist clinic for help with limb swelling caused by cancer or its treatment and more than 100 attend the breathing clinic.

In all more than 600 local people are supported each year at no cost to the patients.

Approximately one-third of the funds come via Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust but the charity still needs to raise more than £40,000 a month.

The Hospice Lottery, donations and fundraising activities are important sources of funds but the majority comes through four charity shops, a furniture warehouse and legacies.

Lewis-Manning is holding two remembrance services in December. A carol service will take place at Wimborne Minster on December 3 at 7pm featuring the Bournemouth Male Voice Choir.

A Tree of Lights service will be held in the hospice grounds at 6pm on December 7. Both are ticketed events, call 01202 701000 for more information.

Julia's House was opened in Springdale Road, Corfe Mullen in March 2006 after 10 years of fundraising and named in memory of its founder, Julia Perks.

It looks after children who are seriously ill and unlikely to live beyond the age of 18.

There are around 200 life-limited and life-threatened children in Dorset with conditions including muscular dystrophy, severe cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy and brain tumours.

The charity has 50 nurses and carers who regularly visit family homes, looking after the child's every need and helping to take the pressure off parents.

In 2007 Julia's House provided 6,500 hours of care to children in their homes, a service so in demand it has quadrupled in size in the last year.

Youngsters can also visit the house regularly throughout their lives where they can play, try out arts and crafts, have access to specialist equipment and multi-sensory therapies.

The children's hospice is open four days a week and soon will take youngsters for overnight care as well.

Julia's House is a free service for families in Dorset which receives little government funding and relies on charitable giving for the £1.5 million a year it costs to run the community service and hospice.

The Julia's House tree is in the Dolphin Shopping Centre, where visitors will be able to leave messages in a book of remembrance.

A service will be held there on Thursday December 13 at 6.30pm in celebration of all the lives lit on the Julia's House tree.