Leicester City Players Surprise Children at Leicester’s Hospitals with Gifts   

Leicester City Football Club’s (LCFC) men’s and women’s first team made a heart-warming visit to Leicester Children’s Hospital last week as part of their annual festive celebrations. 

A selection of LCFC Men’s and Women’s players (including the likes of Jamie Vardy, Conor Coady, Aileen Whelan, and CJ Bott), as well as Filbert Fox and Club Ambassador Alan Birchenall personally delivered Christmas presents to young patients, bringing joy and surprise to the children staying at the wards.

Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall said: “It makes me immensely happy to know that Leicester City continues to place such importance on this very special Christmas tradition at the Club.
 
“I’ve been on so many hospital visits in my time at the Club and I’ve seen first-hand the impact it can make to the children, seeing our players give up their time to go and visit them.
 
“Christmas is a time for family and very sadly some of the children in hospital this December might not get to spend Christmas Day at home. 
 
“It means a great deal to us to be able to visit them and make sure we do whatever we can to make their hospital stay more enjoyable. I’d also like to pay tribute to the wonderful staff at the Royal Infirmary for the service they provide at such a challenging time of year.
 
“They are the best of us – providing excellent care despite everything – and I’m so pleased Leicester City continues to play our own role in helping them meet those challenges.”

The players distributed toys, teddies, and various gifts, aiming to create a positive and festive atmosphere for the young patients last Wednesday (December 6).

The event, which is coordinated by Leicester Hospitals Charity each year, was met with enthusiasm from the Charity team. Sunita Patel, Acting Head of the Charity said: “We can all relate to how difficult it must be to be a child in hospital. Whilst our incredible NHS staff do everything, they can to make time on the wards for children and young people as comforting as possible, this annual visit from LCFC adds a bit of extra magic and joy to children whilst they recover.”

Sunita highlighted the significance of the players’ visit, by continuing to say: “Some children have been in our hospitals for a long time, and many spend Christmas on the wards, seeing their sporting hero in person does brings a smile to their face, which is priceless.”

LCFC’s involvement in the event was appreciated by the Charity team, with Sunita extending a heartfelt thanks to everyone at the club for making the visit possible again.

If you would like to help by giving gifts to young patients at Leicester’s Hospitals, then you can get involved in the Christmas Toy Drive on Saturday 16 December.

More information can be found at www.LHCharity.org.uk/christmas-toy-drive.