An inspiring woman from Swansea received a special 'One Big Thank You' on BBC's The One Show on Thursday, April 13, after being nominated by her friends and family for setting up and dedicating her time to Advocates and Angels, a charity which aims to help parents going through child bereavement, while also offering practical help to families whose children have life-limiting conditions.
Bethan Germon set up the charity after she tragically lost her daughter, Lydia, in 2020, when Lydia was just four years old. After her passing, Bethan and her husband Dave found that bereavement support for them and their wider family seemed to fade. So, to help others and to help heal her own pain, Bethan set up the charity Advocates and Angels in the hope she could help support other families experiencing loss and going through difficult times - and her charity has been praised for doing just that.
Host of The One Show, Alex Jones told viewers that when Bethan and David's daughter Lydia was born, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition and so the couple spent the vast majority of their time in hospital with her, caring for her complex needs.
Lydia's sister and Bethan and Dave's other daughter, Caitlin told cameras: "My mum made the charity so that other kids with disabilities in hospital can have support, because she knows what they are going through."
Alex explained how one of the charity's main aims is to provide care packages for families who need to rush to hospital with their child without any prior warning.
Reflecting on this, Caitlin spoke of how essential items such as toothbrushes, deodorant and "anything ready for a stay overnight" are seldom remembered at such a stressful time.
But now, after Bethan's dedicated work, packages containing these necessities are now available for free in every paediatric ward in Wales.
For The One Show's 'One Big Thank You', the programme treated Bethan and her sister Sian to a spa day - and surprised them with one of Bethan's favourite TV stars, fashion guru Gok Wan, who treated her to a hand massage!
On the programme, viewers watched on with smiles on their faces as Gok arrived at the spa to surprise Bethan.
"Well, surprise! It's me. I've been roped in by your friends and family who have nominated you for The One Show's 'One Big Thank You' for all the amazing work you do, all the families you help and every single one of us are just blown away by your story," he told her.
With her friends and family waiting in a room upstairs, Bethan was then shown several heartfelt messages from some pretty familiar faces.
Appearing in a video, Jermaine Jenas said: "Hi Bethan, it's Jermaine here from The One Show. The way you've stepped in to help others after going through so much yourself is completely inspiring. We think you deserve some recognition and this One Big Thank You. And it's not just us."
Bethan's mother was next to appear in a video, with a lovely message. "Every day I'm amazed at your courage and resilience and everything that you do through Advocating Angels to help others," she said.
But it wasn't just Bethan's family or The One Show hosts who featured in the video - Sophie Rundle, star of Peaky Blinders, also gave Bethan a warm message of thanks.
"I've heard all the incredible work you do with the Advocates and Angels and I think it is so inspiring. So for all your hard work, you definitely deserve One Big Thank You," she said.
Emotional after hearing the kind messages, Bethan said through tears: "You guys have been here. And you have loved us and believed in everything that the charity could have been and will be. And I love you all."
Finishing off the segment, Alex supported her fellow Welshie by saying: "As we say in Swansea, she's lush, isn't she?"
What is Advocates and Angels?
Advocates and Angels is a charity based at 270 Cockett Road, Swansea that aims to support parents going through child bereavement and families whose little ones have been diagnosed with life-limited conditions.
Information on the charity's website explains: "We are here to help parents/carers navigate the world of disabilities, hospital admissions – palliative care and bereavement. Its important to know you are not on your own."
To find out more, or to donate to the charity, visit its website here.
The One Show airs weekdays at 7pm on BBC One.
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