Chris Evans surprises children’s ward patients with special screening of Lightyear

Chris Evans - best known for playing Captain America - voices Buzz Lightyear in a new animated film by Disney and Pixar, with him having greeted patients and families at a special screening recently

Chris Evans surprised patients on a children's ward in London yesterday with a special screening of his film Lightyear - which will be released in the UK this week.

The actor, 40, voices Buzz Lightyear in the animated film that centres on the fictional pilot who the action figure of the same name is inspired by in the Toy Story franchise.

Ahead of it's release on Friday (June 17), a pre-release screening was held for patients and their families at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London yesterday.

The screening featured a surprise appearance from Chris - best known as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe - who greeted patients and their families at it.

The screening in the hospital's CW+ MediCinema - one of six in-hospital cinemas the charity runs in the UK - came after Chris spent time with patients and their families.

The actor then introduced the screening of the Disney and Pixar film before he left for the UK premiere - making the patients among the first in the country to see it.

Speaking to the Press Association, Milena, the mother of a patient called Michael, said the experience was something that her son "will never forget".

A pre-release screening was held at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Image:

( Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

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She recalled the "surprise and joy" on her son's face when Chris walked into the MediCinema screening, saying that it's something she will never forget - nor will Michael.

Milena said: "Michael is a huge film fan and has been a regular at the MediCinema which has helped him so much when he's been in hospital. For him to meet and speak to one of his heroes has been out of this world.”

It's understood that there will be further special preview screenings of upcoming film Lightyear at MediCinema sites across the country.

Milena and her son Michael were among the audience at the special screening

Image:

( Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Colin Lawrence, chief executive of MediCinema, said: "Our young patients have had such a wonderful day – to meet Chris Evans and see this special screening of Lightyear at the CW+ MediCinema lit up so many faces, and I'm sure they will treasure this experience."

He said that "life has been very hard for patients in hospital," especially over the past few years, so such an experience will have made "a real difference to their stay."

The charity MediCinema, founded in 1999, has provided more than 300,000 experiences and works to improve wellbeing and quality of life for NHS patients and families.

The hospital screening was held shortly before the UK premiere in Leicester Square

Image:

( WireImage)

Chris Chaney, chief executive of hospital charity CW+, said: "We were thrilled to welcome Chris Evans on this very special visit, which brought fun and excitement.

"Our CW+ MediCinema provides magic and escapism, comforting patients and loved ones who are going through a difficult time. This visit was such a boost for them."

He expressed thanks to those who helped organise the screening, saying: "We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Chris and Disney, everyone had a fantastic time."

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