A WOMAN being cared for by St Michael's Hospice, Hereford, has told of appearing in a joyful internet video that has been played as far away as Australia.

The clip shows her dancing along in a wheelchair to a song called Blinding Lights by The Weeknd with two members of the hospice therapy team.

It was recorded by the hospice’s communications team and put on their social media channels.

Ms Beard said: "My family thought it was brilliant.

"My nephew in Australia showed his friends, and they all shared it too. I’ve also got family in New Zealand and Canada who saw the video, and loved it!"

Ms Beard has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and became ill last autumn, which is when the video was uploaded.

She was admitted for what she assumed would be a short stay at the hospice.

"I didn’t realise quite how ill I was at the time," she said.

"My youngest son visited me early on and later told his wife, ‘That’s not my mum. That’s a frail old lady’."

Ms Beard thought she would be at St Michael’s for about seven days. In fact, her stay lasted seven weeks, but she made the most of every second.

"Everyone there was just a joy to be around. The staff would say that all they could hear coming from my room was laughter." Ms Beard said she had a great time with the therapy team in particular.

"I’ve been on a pedal bike, I’ve danced, walked, and just had fun. And that’s so important to me."

"I never thought all this would have been possible at St Michael’s. Quite simply, the hospice has been a lifeline. Not just to me but to my family as well.

"They’ve taught me one thing, and that is that life is for living, if you’re just prepared to accept that help.

"Yes, I was apprehensive before first coming to St Michael’s. Now, I know I’ll never be afraid to walk through those doors. Not even when my time comes."