YOUNG Carmela Watson has become one of the stars of a charity video raising awareness about how seriously ill children are in urgent need of personal protective equipment.

Carmela, six, who lives in Market Lavington, near Devizes suffers from a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy.

She is no stranger to publicity as she has previously been a poster girl for Julia’s House Children’s Hospice in Devizes

Now Carmela, who has the progressive muscle wasting condition called LMNA Congenital Muscular Dystrophy which weaken every muscle, including her heart and lungs, is helping WellChild highlight the urgent need for PPE by ill children.

The charity says many families caring for seriously ill children at home are at risk of reaching breaking point, having to deliver round-the-clock care without external help during COVID-19, because of the shortage of PPE for their carers.

The charity has received more than 350 urgent requests for PPE such as gloves, aprons, and face masks from families across the country, with numbers growing every day.

In response to the sudden surge in demand, WellChild’s COVID-19 Response Team has sourced more than 76,000 items of PPE, which they are distributing to families across the UK.

A spokesman said: However, with finite stocks and 60 per cent of the charity’s income expected to be lost this year through cancelled or postponed fundraising events and partnerships, the charity is appealing for help.”

Julie Ridgeley, who cares for her 16-year-old daughter Lia said: “Lia has Cerebral Palsy with Epilepsy and needs oxygen on a regular basis. She needs round the clock care and is very vulnerable. Lia has care from a nurse but we do not have PPE for her.

Go to charity at www.wellchild.org.uk. Watch the video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/pxaOamJNduU