“CHASE is a wonderful charity to be involved in.”

“There are lots of charities out there but CHASE is one that particularly inspires me.”

“If I can do anything to raise awareness then I will do it. I am really pleased to be here today.”

CHILDREN at CHASE hospice in Guildford were given the Christmas surprise of a lifetime on Sunday.

The charity worked with Coca-Cola and the Merlin Group, which runs Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures and The London Eye, to transform Christopher’s Hospice into a winter wonderland.

Celebrity supporters Keeley Hawes, Matthew MacFadyen, Max Clifford and Rachel Hurd-Wood joined more than 50 children with life-limiting illnesses and their families for the event.

Staff at the hospice, in Old Portsmouth Road, left nothing to chance and with the help of Merlin’s Magic Wand and Coca-Cola UK, they put together a magical white Christmas for the children.

Snow fell from the sky, there were snowballs, Father Christmas and his pal Frosty the Snowman, presents for every child attending and many other exciting surprises.

Andy Nimmo, dad to five-year-old Daisy, Jules, 7, Xanthe, 10, and 12-year-old Theo, said: “It has been magical.

“Daisy loved seeing Father Christmas. She was even signing the words Father Christmas, she was so excited.

“All Daisy’s brothers and sister have had so much fun too. They have run around playing with their friends they have met on siblings days here at the hospice.”

Diane Nind, mum to nine-year-old Lewis, added: “Lewis has enjoyed getting presents and I have enjoyed meeting the real Father Christmas. It has been a fantastic experience for all the family.”

CHASE hospice care for children provides nursing, practical and emotional support to families with children who are not expected to reach their 19th birthday.

The charity’s specialist care team offers this support at home, in the community and at Christopher’s, where families can take a break and spend some quality time together.

Celebrity patron Matthew MacFadyen, who has starred in Pride and Prejudice and Spooks, said of Sunday’s event: “My wife Keeley and our three children have loved being here today.

“The kids have loved playing in the snow the most. But all of it has been great. It started off so warm and friendly and then it became really moving. It is fantastic that we were able to be a part of such a special day.”

The day was funded by Merlin’s Magic Wand, an organisation set up a year ago by Merlin Entertainments to bring the Merlin magic to disadvantaged children.

The children are either taken to one of Merlin’s 59 attractions around the world or, as with this event when the children are too sick, the Merlin magic is brought to them.

CHASE chief executive David King said: “We are so grateful to Merlin’s Magic Wand and Coca-Cola to create this magical Winter Wonderland for so many of the children we support.

“For some of the families here, this may be their last Christmas together so to be able to create something so special was truly moving.

“It has been a tough year at CHASE. The service has been hit very hard by the recession. Donations have declined to such an extent that we are now facing cuts.

“The stark fact is that in 2010, CHASE may not be able to offer as many local families the specialist nursing care and support they need both at home and at our children’s hospice, Christopher’s.

“Therefore, it is especially poignant that we have been able to offer such a magical day to so many of the families we support today.”

For more information about CHASE and how you can help the charity, visit www.chasecare.org.uk.

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