December 25th 2023.
Josephine Segal will be spending her Christmas Day in a unique way, surrounded by magicians, fairies, singers, poets, face-painters and therapy dogs. As the co-founder of Spread a Smile, a charity that provides in-hospital and virtual entertainment for critically and severely ill children, her mission is to create memorable moments of distraction and excitement for very sick children across two London hospitals.
“Spending any time in hospital is challenging, but being in hospital on Christmas Day is especially tough and can be heartbreaking for children and families alike,” explains Josephine. “No parent wants their child to be in hospital, especially on Christmas Day, a day that should be packed with fun, excitement, and family time. We aim to provide distraction, light and laughter, and, of course, spread smiles.”
Josephine will be visiting children and families across selected wards at University College London Hospital on Christmas Day and Great Ormond Street Hospital on Boxing Day. She co-founded Spread a Smile in 2013 after seeing the positive impact a magician’s visit had on her young nephew, Aaron, during his treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Now, 10 years on, the charity works with 31 hospitals and four hospices across the UK.
Andrea Zick, a trained chef, is another person who is sacrificing her Christmas Day with family and friends. For the past six years, she has been volunteering at Crisis at Christmas, to ensure everyone who attends gets a hot meal on the festive occasion.
“In the first years, when I actually had Christmas off work, I often felt that Christmas didn’t feel as enjoyable,” says Andrea. “It was just loafing around on the sofa waiting for the next portion of food and gifts to come. That very much then led me to try volunteering with Crisis at Christmas– and in my first year I just absolutely loved the environment.”
Andrea works as a sous chef in the Bermondsey branch of Crisis at Christmas, where she helps to make a delicious festive dinner for homeless and vulnerable individuals on Christmas Day. But Andrea says it’s so much more than just the food on offer.
“It’s really important for us to acknowledge that it doesn’t matter what day of the year it is, the power is actually in the reason why we are coming together,” says Andrea.
Richard Grainger, a 35-year-old animal care assistant, will also be spending his Christmas Day at work. His day involves feeding, cleaning and exercising the animals at RSPCA’s Chesterfield & North Derbyshire branch.
“I am a pot-washer, dog-walker, poop-scooper, floor-mopper, cat-cuddler, treat-dispenser, food-giver, ear-tickler, hand-feeder, ball-thrower, toy-tugger, window-washer, paw-cleaner, belly-scratcher, photo-taker, appeal-writer, and probably a few other things too,” says Richard.
Richard works every other Christmas Day and starts early. He enjoys every second of it and loves the stillness and quiet the day brings.
“There’s something quite magical about walking to work early on Christmas morning when there’s scarcely any cars on the road and few sounds beyond the twittering of birds,” he explains. “To know it’s just me, the dogs, the cats, the rabbits and the brilliant silence. Sometimes I’ll walk one of the dogs and, as far as I can tell, we might as well be the last two souls on earth. It’s a weirdly brilliant feeling.”
Josephine, Andrea and Richard are all sacrificing their Christmas Day to help others, and their inspiring stories remind us that the power is in the reason why we are coming together. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing email.
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