Ferne McCann inspires families to take on new Christmas tradition

TV star Ferne McCann is encouraging families to do something special this Christmas by giving a unique gift that will change the life of a hungry child.  

Ferne, who decorated a special Mary’s Meals Christmas tree at home alongside youngest daughter Finty, age 1, is inspiring families to start a new tradition together and decorate an online Christmas tree to give hungry children around the world the chance of a better future. 

The Dancing on Ice star is calling on people to donate to Mary’s Meals’ Christmas Trees of Hope – and create a beautifully decorated online Christmas tree gift for a loved one that will give food and hope to children living in some of the world’s poorest countries. 

Ferne, who is currently rehearsing for the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice, found fame on The Only Way Is Essex, before going on to appear on the likes of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here and star in ITVBe’s My Family and Me. 

The mum of two has thrown her support behind Mary’s Meals and says: “Decorating the Christmas tree is a very special moment for many families. Finty and I had such a lovely time decorating our tree for Mary’s Meals, seeing her face light up at all the decorations and baubles was such a beautiful moment! 

“It costs just £19.15 to feed a child for a full school year and I’ll be visiting the Mary’s Meals website and decorating a virtual Christmas tree with Finty and her big sister, Sunday, so that we can make a real difference in a child’s life together. Christmas is a time for giving, and by decorating and dedicating a Mary’s Meals Tree of Hope to a loved one, you’ll be giving a hungry child a brighter future, all while showing love to your friends and family this festive season.” 

By donating to Mary’s Meals this Christmas, supporters will be helping children like Rachel, 10, from Zambia. Because of the energy that her nutritious daily school meal provides, Rachel is not only excelling in the classroom, but also on the netball field, where she plays with her classmates. 

She says: “The porridge helps me not to be hungry, to listen attentively and to concentrate. It also gives me energy to play with my friends.”  

Rachel is just one of 2.4 million children that, thanks to the generosity of Mary’s Meals supporters, can now concentrate in the classroom and gain an education that will provide the prospect of a better tomorrow. 

Anybody can decorate a virtual Christmas tree on our website and dedicate their beautifully decorated tree to a friend or family member or in memory. The gift can then be shared by email, on social media or as a printout to gift to a loved one. 

Once decorated, the tree will be ‘planted’ in the Mary’s Meals festive forest of hope, where each tree can be viewed online in a community act of love this Christmas. 

Marie Doyle, Interim Executive Director at Mary’s Meals, says: “We’re so grateful to Ferne and her lovely family for supporting us this Christmas and decorating their own Mary’s Meals Tree of Hope which will go so far to support the children we feed across the world.  

“Decorating your virtual tree is a fantastic way to start a new Christmas tradition with your family, all while offering hope to those who really need it.” 

This festive season, donations made to Mary’s Meals will be doubled by a group of generous supporters, up to £1.1 million*, meaning donations to Mary’s Meals Christmas Trees of Hope will have twice the impact. 

Mary's Meals is encouraging people to Double The Love this Christmas so they can help Mary’s Meals to provide a nutritious daily meal in school for hungry children living in some of the world’s poorest countries.

You can decorate your own Mary’s Meals Christmas Tree of Hope today!

*Gift matching will end when the £1.1 million total is reached.