LCFC Pay Christmas Visit To Royal Infirmary

Every year, the Club sets aside one very special afternoon to try and visit as many local children as they can in the city centre who may have to spend Christmas in hospital rather than at home with their families.

As soon as they arrived, the squad were greeted by a crowd of patients and staff alike in reception before making their way onto the wards to hand out presents, including teddy bears, blankets and chocolate.

For the third year running, the players also provided a bundle of iPads, funded for out of their own pockets, which will now be used for distraction and play during treatment on the children’s wards.

In many instances, the young patients leapt from their beds to make sure they didn’t miss out on the opportunity to meet the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel and the rest of the squad.

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LCFC Hospital Visit

Children of all ages are cared for at the Infirmary.

Speaking during the visit, City defender Harry Maguire told LCFC TV: “Obviously to come along and meet everyone, all the staff and all the children… when you see all the smiles on their faces, it’s very pleasing.

“It’s a time, as a team, we all look forward to coming and giving something back to the kids. Like I’ve said, putting a smile on their faces means a lot to us all so it’s a big occasion for us all.”

Maguire has embraced life in Leicester since he joined the Club last summer and this is just the latest community initiative that the England international has taken to his heart over the past five months.

“Definitely, as a club, since I’ve been here, they’ve always helped in the community, they’ve always tried to do little things, trying to help others,” he added.

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LCFC Hospital Visit

Both staff and patients were delighted by the visit.

“As you’ve seen today, we’ve got numerous presents. When we hand them out, it’s a big impact for the kids. We’ve just seen a seen a little boy who said it’s actually made his day, so it’s a good time for us all.”

Debbie Adlerstein, Head of Business Development at the Infirmary, was also thrilled to see so many smiles on the patients’ faces, especially considering how difficult Christmas can be for the children and their families.

She said: “It’s amazing, I went around to the wards yesterday to let them know they were coming and you saw today so many of them had their shirts on and we were being chased around by them weren’t we?

“I think the main thing… it makes people smile and that’s so nice for us, walking around because smiling is such a good thing.

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LCFC Hospital Visit

A large group of Foxes stars were in attendance.

“Your players have been coming since I’ve been here, 10 years now, and everything they’re even better, they talk more and they interact more.”

Marc Albrighton was another figure from the Foxes squad to enjoy the occasion and it is something, he says, they will all remember fondly over the festive season.

“Obviously the kids we see are happy to see us but we’re just as happy to see them,” he told LCFC TV. “We’ve just been to see a little girl called Daisy and she’s been in hospital for the whole of November and up until now.

“She’s probably the most positive person I’ve ever met and when you see people like that, it makes you appreciate what you’ve got and appreciate your health and everything that goes with it.”

The Club would like to express its gratitude to Cineworld Hinckley for providing cinema tickets for the patients and also to wish all the children and their families a very Merry Christmas.