Two doctors are spreading festive cheer in a bid to brighten their local community in the midst of the pandemic and raise vital funds for an NHS Charity.
Consultant Rheumatologist, Kavitha Nadesalingam, who is based at St Luke’s Hospital, part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals, and her husband, Leeds GP Dave Kirkby, have festooned their home in Horsforth with thousands of lights to illuminate dark days.
Two times a week-day (at 17:30 and 18:30) and three times at the weekends (16:30, 17:30 and 18:30pm) their detached Yorkshire stone house comes alive with the sound of music and a co-ordinated light show in aid of Bradford Hospitals’ Charity.
Dr Nadesalingam said: “Our street is very neighbourly and we always get into the Christmas spirit by switching on our lights together every year.
“It’s been a challenging year for many and we wanted to do something lovely to lift the mood of the community and our colleagues in the NHS.
“This week, Dave and I turned 40 on consecutive days, so because we can’t have a party, we decided to go big with the lights and decorations on the house instead.”
For the past three months, Dr Kirby has spent weekends and evenings arranging the timings for the songs and getting the lights rewired.
Dr Nadesalingam continued: “We sourced much of our equipment and computer programme so we could co-ordinate the lights and music.”
The couple, who have four young children, have been thrilled with the response from the community.
“It’s great to see people smile when they watch the light and music show and the response to our charity fundraising page is absolutely amazing,” added Dr Nadesalingam.
“We were expecting small change like a pound or two but we have been delighted at the amounts coming in and a huge thank you to everyone for their donations.”
The couple’s fundraising page which was only launched on Saturday currently stands at £1,300. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kavitha-kirby
The light and music show will continue to New Year’s Day.
“Dave put the show together so I’ve booked the first week of January off to take down all the decorations as it’s going to take forever!!
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Chief Nurse, Karen Dawber, said: “We are absolutely thrilled Drs Nadesalingam and Kirby have chosen BHC to benefit from their fundraising through this illuminating idea.
“The festive season, both in hospital and in the local community, is going to be challenging this year but their idea is spreading sparkle and magic in so much ways.
“The fundraising will help us spread additional sparkle and magic around Bradford Teaching Hospitals for our patients and NHS colleagues over the Christmas period.
