ROWCROFT Hospice patient Mike Harris, from Chudleigh, has a starring role in a new film which addresses common misconceptions about hospices.

The short film features patients and families who have been cared for by the hospice and shows some of the moments of happiness which happen.

The footage is set to the Louis Armstrong track What A Wonderful World.

A film crew spent time at the hospice capturing a variety of shots depicting patients laughing, playing music, painting and with loved ones.

Mike said: ‘The film crew spent a couple of hours at my house, filming me in several situations.

‘The new film is very well put together.

‘People have the conception that people go to hospices to die and the film better shows what Rowcroft truly does.’

Gile Charnaud, chief executive of Rowcroft, explained: ‘A lot of people think hospices are just places where people come to die.

‘This couldn’t be further from the truth.

‘Rowcroft is a place where people come to live, it enables families to share precious moments together.

‘We hope that by making and sharing this film, more people will come to understand what really happens at the hospice, how it is able to grant people moments that can be treasured forever.’

A film crew was invited to the hospice and shadowed the hospice’s community team which visits patients in their own homes.

Sue Harvey, inpatient unit manager at the hospice, added: ‘We weren’t sure what to expect having a film crew on our unit.

‘After speaking with our patients and their families, some were very keen to take part.

‘The film crew were incredibly sensitive and, as a result, we were able to capture genuinely moving moments shared between our patients and their families as well as members of staff and volunteers.’

The film was produced with a donation from Galliford Try and Greg and Judy Fitzgerald.