On Wednesday, October 21st, Noah's Ark Appeal patron, Charlotte Church officially launched the Appeal's new campaign: a fundraising drive for new paediatric critical care equipment.

In the reception of the Children's Hospital for Wales, Charlotte enthusiastically greeted patients and parents, and spoke about the new campaign at the press conference. Here's what she had to say:

"As Patron of the Noah’s Ark Appeal I would like to welcome you all here today.

The Noah’s Ark Appeal is a charity that is close to my heart.  I have been involved since the appeal was launched back in 2000 and I could not have been delighted when phase one opened five years later. 

Now we can look ahead to phase two and the Children’s Hospital for Wales being completed in about three year’s time. 

It’s going to be a truly fabulous place. We’ll finally have the surgical wards and operating theatres, critical care, outpatients and assessment units all under the same roof with first-class equipment and staff.

I have just visited PICU – paediatric intensive care – as this is one of the units the Noah’s Ark Appeal will be helping in this next phase.  I can only imagine what it must be like to have a child staying in this unit.  It was a real pleasure to meet everyone and to hear about the work they do.

I met with Paula, one of the lead nurses, who told me how excited the nursing team are about the move to the new Paediatric Critical Care Unit.  She said how it will provide them with a better environment to care for critically ill children and how important it was for the whole team to do all they can to support the families of the children in the unit as it is a very emotionally demanding time for them, having their child attached to so much equipment, with a potentially life threatening illness.

After seeing everything for myself, I am even keener to do what I can to help make this new vital unit the best it can be.  The supporters of the Noah’s Ark Appeal have been so loyal to us over the years and together we have achieved a great deal.  I hope that they will continue with their support."

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