"Team Lauren” campaign team delighted at recognition

A campaign which saw Cardiff Central station taken over by the terminal illness charity Marie Curie to raise awareness of the work their nurses do in the community and to fund a local nurse at the charity’s Cardiff and the Vale hospice, has been recognised at an inaugural health awards. 

For 8 weeks during the summer, commuters found major advertising boards in the station were replaced with pictures of local Marie Curie Nurse Lauren James and a call for people to “Join Team Lauren” to fund a Marie Curie Nurse like her for the next two years. 

Marie Curie and Exterion Media, who the charity partnered with, hoped the campaign would provide an engaging experience for commuters as they travelled through the station and prompt them to find out more about the work that Marie Curie do. 

The campaign itself exceeded its target of signing up 600 regular donors – with 732 people signing up to support the charity by the end of the eight weeks. 

And now the team has been recognised as a finalist in South Wales Argus Health and Care Awards Health Campaign of the Year. 

Nurse Lauren, who provides care to terminally ill people and their families, previously spoke of her role and her passion of caring for people. 

“Working in hospice care has of course taught me a lot about death and the dying process,” she said. 

“However I think it has taught me a lot more about life. It has taught me about the value of a good quality of life and optimising the time each of us has left.” 

Christine McKillop, regular giving development manager for Marie Curie, said: “We were delighted to be shortlisted in the South Wales Argus Health and Care Awards Health Campaign of the Year. 

“Thank you to Lauren for her starring role, to Exterion Media for all their work and support and to our teams who engaged with commuters at Cardiff Central.  Of course, we cannot forget all those who signed up to pledge to support Marie Curie and help us fund another nurse like Lauren.” 

Karen Landles, of Exterion Media, said: “Our work with Marie Curie is unlike any other project we have worked on, and we are thrilled to get this recognition for such a unique campaign.”