This Summer, Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and the gang did much more than help Christopher Robin find his lost briefcase, they helped thousands of seriously ill children and adults in hospital feel better with film.
In a UK film industry first, Disney in partnership with charity MediCinema, cinema operators and the UK Cinema Association, held nationwide preview screenings of Christopher Robin on the 16th of August, a day before it’s official release, where all proceeds from the box office ticket sales went to the charity.
The collaboration raised £110,000 which enables MediCinema to bring a state of the art cinema experience and create 9160 movie Moments for patients. This enables seriously ill children and those closest to them to share a Moment that Matters when they need it the most.
Kat Mason, Chief Executive of MediCinema said “You honestly can’t overestimate the difference that going to the movies in your hospital bed can make to a patient and their family – it is precious normality, a chance to escape into other worlds, a shared experience and memory made together when it is needed most.” Through a recent survey, over 90% of patient attendees said that it had reduced their anxiety, reduced the isolation of being in hospital and given them a sense of normality. Young seriously ill patient Uzayr, aged 10, said “when the door closes I forget all about my pain”.
As part of Disney’s social purpose programme we are committed to bringing comfort and inspiration to families with children facing serious illness. Through our founding partnership with MediCinema, we recognise the impact being able to spend quality time together brings; by helping to build emotional resilience by giving patients and those closest to them the strength and ability to cope.