A PENARTH healthcare assistant from a local charity has appeared in its first-ever televised Christmas advert.
Marie Curie assistant Leaah Deans has starred in the charity's first festive TV advert to help promote the Christmas Appeal.
The advert shows the challenges families face when a loved one is dying at Christmas, but how charity and people like Leaah can help to make it the best it can be.
Ms Deans has worked for Marie Curie in Penarth for over 20 years providing hospice care to people likely to die from terminal illnesses.
She said: “Providing care and comfort to people is what we do all year round, but we bring extra joy to patients by making them feel festive over the Christmas period.
“We do everything we can to make them feel like they are in a more homely environment rather than a hospice and let them know they can celebrate Christmas if they want to.
“I go into the hospice knowing I’m going to make someone’s last Christmas the best it can be so that overrides my sadness at leaving my family.
"I know I’ll have next Christmas and that I can go home and celebrate with my family another day.”
The charity is dependent on public donations so that Marie Curie Nurses and healthcare professionals can provide expert hospice care, whatever the illness, in the comfort at home or at one of its nine hospices, including its site on Bridgeman Road, Penarth.
The hospice helps people with any illness they're likely to die from, and the people close to them, receive the support they need. From medical and physical support to psychological and emotional care, whatever the illness, at whatever stage of the journey, the hospice team aim to help people to live the best life possible, right to the end.
The money raised from the Christmas Appeal will also fund the charity’s free support line and webchat, which is available to anyone with an illness they are likely to die from and those close to them.
It offers practical and emotional support on everything from symptom management and day-to-day care to financial information and bereavement support and is open throughout the Christmas Period.
Marie Curie’s Christmas TV advert ‘Marie Curie Christmas’ launched on TV on 1st November and is also available to watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXHWvR1H64Q
To find out more about how you can support the Marie Curie Christmas Appeal and give care, comfort and joy this Christmas visit: mariecurie.org.uk/christmas
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here