Widow Alice’s 6-year-old daughter died because she didn’t have the equivalent of the cost of a Starbucks coffee… how could that be? Her daughter was sick, and Alice had no money to get her treated. She asked her neighbours for a loan, but they were likewise destitute. So she set about making a clay pot as quickly as possible to sell, but during those lost hours, her daughter’s illness proved fatal.

I’m shaking my head in disbelief as I write this… it is so wrong!

We can stop something like that from happening again this Christmas for 5,000 of the most marginalised people in Burundi.

Burundians can get a health insurance card, valid for a year, which covers the whole family. It allows them to get hugely-subsidised treatment at a public clinic or hospital without incurring crippling debts. Many Burundians cannot afford to save – they often live day-to-day so they cannot afford emergencies.

Alice didn’t have that card, so her daughter died.

I was filming with a few grateful health card recipients last month in Burundi, and it is literally a life-saver – please take a look:

I love this appeal because everyone can take part. Even my/our kids can afford to help a family or multiple families. Together we can stop Alice’s story being repeated.

What do you want for Christmas this year? I know what I want – to save lives – this will be my gift!

I invite you to join me, be it for one family, ten or a hundred – every single one counts.