The United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity's Upon a Star Christmas campaign is taking place for a third year.

Lincoln County Hospital, Grantham and District Hospital and Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, will once again be lit up with festive stars to raise money for the charity.

The stars are a beacon of joy that welcome visitors and more than 9,000 hospital staff as they start their shifts or as they leave the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust sites each day. The charity is looking for local businesses who want to support their local NHS by sponsoring a star.

All sponsors will be featured on the charity's website and will be promoted via the charity's social media. So far sponsors for this year include Day Architectural Ltd, Thorlux Lighting, and Denby Transport and Else Ltd who is returning for a third year. 

This year the stars will not only be lit up for Christmas, but they will also be illuminated for Diwali celebrations from Friday 10 to Tuesday 14 November.

Gary Burr, Charity Fundraiser at the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity, said: "It is great to be able to run this campaign again. It really is one of the highlights of the year to see all of our hospitals lit up. How perfect to be able to start with the Diwali celebrations, also known as the festival of light, and continue right through until Christmas.

"We know that these stars will once again give our workforce and visitors that added bit of Christmas cheer when they arrive or leave.

"We have still got stars available for local businesses to sponsor and so please get in touch with us if you would like to help spread some festive cheer. We have the Superstar (£5,000), which will be named after the sponsor for this year, Wish stars (£1,000) and Hope stars (£500)."

Every penny raised will allow United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity to support lots of festive events for patients and staff.

Gary added: "We will be giving a present to every patient waking up in our hospitals on Christmas morning, providing a festive feast for colleagues who are working over the festive period and also offering a Christmas dinner for all of the volunteers who have so generously given us their time during the course of the year. Please do get in touch if you can help support this."

The stars will be turned on for the Christmas period at a switch-on event on Tuesday 21 November at Lincoln County Hospital.

For more information about sponsoring a star please email [email protected], or you can find out more on the charity's website.