FROM nurses to taxi drivers, carers to bar workers, many people in south Cumbria will be giving up their Christmas Day for others.
We spoke to some of the people who will be spending this Christmas at work to find out what it is like and how they manage to celebrate the festive period with their loved ones.
These are the people who give up their day to make sure south Cumbria keeps going over the festive period.
Tina Brown, Assistant Nurse Practitioner at Furness General Hospital
Tina has worked as an assistant nurse practitioner for over 33 years at Furness General Hospital where she started her career.
The 70-year-old, who lives on Walney, will be working in the evening on December 25 and explains that it can be a sad and happy day.
She said: "It is sad that anyone is poorly at this time of the year, but more so with children, you don't really want them coming to the hospital, do you?"
She has done several shifts on Christmas Day and always tries to work the night shift because of her young grandchildren.
"By the time I go into work at 7.30pm they are normally in bed, so I don't mind going in doing a night on Christmas rather than the day," she said.
"Everyone wants to be home with their families but that's our vocation - that's what we chose to do, but we know we will get our time next year."
Brian White, Taxi Driver for Appy Cabs
Driving taxis for over 25 years, Brian White will be picking up and dropping off custumers in the Barrow, Dalton and Ulverston areas during the whole Christmas period.
The driver, who recently launched the app Appy Cabs, said that working on the festive day is one of the best days of the year to work.
"Everybody is happy - you get plenty of tips and customers are all lovely and nice so it is a good time to work," he said.
"All of us come to work and we all do our bit so we can all spend time with our families.
"I will still be at home with my family but when you have got a business, and you got to serve your customers, you have to work."
Kath Fegan, Home Carer for Heydays Care
Home carer Kath Fegan works at Heydays Care in Barrow and will be assisting individuals with their needs.
For the last 20 years, Ms Fegan has worked on Christmas day supporting people, especially on Walney.
She said: "I haven't got young children anymore so I believe that parents who have children should be there to enjoy the special time with the family.
"I have been in the care profession for over 34 years and enjoy bringing that bit of brightness to the people I care for."
The carer said that despite people being more emotional on this occasion, they can be joyful as seeing a carer's face can brighten up their day.
Darren Gill, Bar worker at The Sun Hotel
Bar worker, Darren Gill has been working for The Sun Hotel, Coniston, for over five years and this won't be his first time serving clients in the pub.
Starting his shift at 11am on December 25, Darren explains that working on Christmas Day is just another day behind the bar.
He said: "To me now Christmas is not the same as when you have children there.
"I always love customer care. I just love customers, locals or tourists."
Liz Ablitt, Health Care Assistant for St Mary’s Hospice
Liz will be supporting people on Christmas Day by providing care and assistance.
She has worked a couple of times on the festive day, but for her, the experience is always rewarding.
"I feel that it will be very rewarding to care, support and help the patients and families that that are in the palliative stage of life," she said.
She said her past experiences of working on the day were hard and emotional but it was rewarding to know that she had helped someone who was vulnerable.
Katie Brown, Nurse for Furness General Hospital
Working for the Complex and Coronary Care unit for over 15 years, Katie says working on Christmas day is part of her job.
The nurse is working on the night shift so she will be able to enjoy the Christmas lunch with her family.
Asking how she feels about working on the day, Katie said: "It is sad because everyone else is enjoying Christmas and you are working but that is the profession that we chose to care for people.
"Where I work I get quite poorly people. We have a lot of families coming especially on Chirstmas because they feel sorry for them.
"It can be emotional for the families if they are really poorly and they could die."
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