The spirit of Christmas shines through the most challenging of circumstances in a profoundly moving new campaign from Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. Their 2025 Christmas advert, shot directly on the hospital wards, promises to leave viewers deeply touched.
A Celebration of Resilience and Joy
This fly-on-the-wall festive film brings together a dozen families who have received support from the world-renowned London hospital, alongside forty dedicated members of staff. The heartwarming footage captures the genuine love and laughter of children, perfectly accompanied by Coldplay's emotive track, All My Love.
The advertisement makes its social media debut tomorrow, with a television broadcast scheduled for Monday, November 17. This exclusive preview officially launches the charity's pivotal 2025 Christmas appeal, titled 'Because Every Moment Matters'.
Ruby's Story: A Fight Against a Rare Condition
The advert concludes with a powerful image of two-year-old Ruby Daniel-McCann tucked safely in bed. Ruby is one of only approximately 1,000 children worldwide diagnosed with PMM2-CDG, an exceptionally rare metabolic condition that affects multiple parts of her body, including her kidneys and liver.
This little girl, who has endured more than 700 days in hospital—mostly at GOSH—is now looking forward to her first proper family Christmas. Last year, she was rushed back to the hospital on Boxing Day with a suspected infection. In a remarkable act of love, Ruby received part of her mother Elle's liver in a transplant this past June.
Her parents, 35-year-old yoga teacher Elle and 43-year-old Steve, who runs a consultancy firm, express immense pride in their daughter. "I was so emotional when I saw the advert," Elle from Highbury, North London, shared. "Christmas still happens, of course, when you have a sick child. It just looks different. But GOSH pulls out all the stops to make it as festive as possible."
She described the hospital's efforts, which include carols, stockings, decorations, and even a full Christmas dinner. "GOSH staff are like family and make it really special. Ruby still plays with the toy she was given last year."
Steve added his own heartfelt reaction: "I couldn't be more proud, I was moved to tears when I saw the advert. Ruby has been moments from death many times in the last two years, so to see her shining brightly on screen was a joy."
The Vital Work of GOSH Charity
During her extensive stays, music-loving Ruby has been supported by the GOSH Charity play team. The charity's work is multifaceted, providing essential accommodation for families in need, funding groundbreaking research, and supplying state-of-the-art medical equipment and child-centred facilities that work alongside the hospital.
Liz Tait, the charity's Director of Fundraising, emphasised their mission: "At GOSH Charity, we are determined to make every moment matter for the seriously ill children and families who will spend Christmas with us."
She highlighted how donations enable the hospital's play team to create magical moments on the wards, from carol singing and Christmas parties to visits from Santa. "We hope that the public will be moved by our advert," Tait said, "seeing how we support families to be there from early morning stocking opening, all the way to bedtime stories."
The charity is urging people to donate to help ensure that even for seriously ill children, Christmas can feel like Christmas. This support ranges from decorating trees with the Play team to providing accommodation near the hospital so parents can remain close during long stays.
*No child should have to spend the festive period in hospital. But when they have to, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity is there to make it feel like home.
