Charlotte backs hospital's campaign

New mother Charlotte Church said she feels "blessed" to have a healthy baby, as she launched a fundraising campaign for a children's hospital.

The singer and television presenter told parents and staff at the Children's Hospital for Wales in her native Cardiff that having daughter Ruby Megan made it "a hundred times" more important for her to help ill children.

Church, speaking as patron of the Noah's Ark Appeal, which is trying to attract £4 million to supply Wales's first dedicated children's hospital with specialist equipment, said: "Once you become a mother, you become a mother of all children."

The first phase of the building of the hospital has been completed, and it opened its doors to patients in 2005. Funding has been agreed for the second stage of the hospital but more money is needed to fit it out.

After touring the wards, Church said: "It's amazing to see how the parents cope. When you have a child of your own it makes it so much closer to home."

Church gave birth in September at the home in St Brides Major, South Wales, that she shares with rugby player boyfriend Gavin Henson.

She would not say how many more children she hopes to have, but spent time cuddling ill babies - taking off her chunky wooden bangles and a large golden heart pendant before doing so.

Church, who has supported the campaign since 2000, said: "When I started coming here I was a child myself. It means so much more to me now that I'm a mother. It gives you more of an understanding of what parents are going through."

The singer said Ruby has not given her any sleepless nights but that her life is entirely different now she's a mum.

"It's completely changed but all in completely positive ways," she said. "There's not one negative. She's been the most well-behaved baby."

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