TIME is running out for people to take part in this year's annual Christmas Star Appeal.

Each year, people can dedicate gold stars in memory of family or friends which are placed on the Christmas tree at City Hall in Bradford.

Today, the Telegraph & Argus and The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Shabir Hussain, are issuing a final reminder for people to dedicate a star, as the cut-off point is Monday.

Coun Hussain launched this year’s Appeal last month when he dedicated a tribute to Abdul Iftikhar.

Speaking at the time, Cllr Hussain, who has served on Bradford Council since 2006, said: “Abdul is a friend and a brother who has been there through the good times and the bad.

“Everyone should have a good friend like him”

People who dedicate a star will be invited to the banqueting suite at City Hall on Wednesday, December 8 for a tea or coffee and a mince pie with the Lord Mayor.

The event gives people a chance to see their Christmas Star on the City Hall Christmas tree.

The Christmas Star evening is always one of the most poignant dates in the civic calendar and has come to mean a great deal to residents of the district.

The evening sees around 200 tributes dedicated to late family and friends during December which form an important part of the festive appeal.

The annual Christmas Stars Appeal is run in partnership with the Telegraph & Argus.

The stars are £5 each to buy and all the money raised is donated to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, which this year is going towards supporting Marie Curie Hospice Bradford and the Bradford Community Kitchen.

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity. It provides frontline nursing and hospice care, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement.

The Bradford Hospice is one of nine hospices that offer the reassurance of specialist care and support, in a friendly, welcoming environment, for people living with a terminal illness and their loved ones. The dedicated team here in Bradford care for local people who are living with a terminal illness, and their families. Meanwhile, Bradford Community Kitchen began in 2017 when a group of people who had been volunteering feeding homeless and vulnerable people in Bradford got together having seen a need to do more than just provide food. It wanted to be able to see what the unmet needs of the homeless and vulnerable were and signpost them to organisations that could help improve their lives.

To take part in this year’s Christmas Star Appeal, fill out the coupon that will be printed on page 9 of the Telegraph & Argus on Saturday, December 4, 2021.