A PENARTH nurse is the new face of a Marie Curie campaign which is set to dominate Cardiff Central Station over the next eight weeks.

The charity, which provides care for the terminally ill, took over every advertising board in the station on Wednesday, June 21, to raise awareness of their campaign.

Members of the public are being asked to "Join Team Lauren," to raise awareness of the work done by Marie Curie nurses and to raise money to pay for an extra nurse at the facility for the next two years.

Hospice nurse Lauren James, of Penarth, is at the forefront of the campaign and features prominently on the billboards plastered across Cardiff Central.

"Being up on a billboard is very surreal but I feel so proud to represent Marie Curie and our wonderful nurses.

"When I was asked if I would like to be part of the campaign I thought it was a great platform to promote Marie Curie. I have seen first-hand how many people do not have access to terminal illness care and Marie Curie want to change that and I am passionate about being part of that change."

Lauren has also recently shaved her hair, to raise additional funds for the charity.

Marie Curie and Exterion Media, who the charity have partnered with, are hoping the campaign will provide an engaging experience for commuters as they travel through the station, prompting them to find out more about the work that Marie Curie do.

"Working in hospice care has of course taught me a lot about death and the dying process, however I think it has taught me a lot more about life," said Ms James.

"It has taught me about the value of a good quality of life and optimising the time each of us has left.

"At Marie Curie we look at each person as an individual. We ask them what they need and more importantly what they want. We give people the information and the tools to make choices and having choice is very important, especially at a time when people feel like they have maybe lost control of a lot of things."

Marie Curie employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and with nine hospices around the UK, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.

Ms James said that being a part of Marie Curie was about helping people to feel supported and comfortable, after receiving a terminal diagnosis.

"We are able to be there for people in perhaps their darkest moments. We want to reach as many people as possible and this is what this campaign is about; reaching people and shining a little light into the darkness. Terminal illness will affect practically everyone at some point. I hope this campaign enables us to be a light for many, many more people."

Marie Curie supporters will be at the station to provide information and seek donations until early August.