The Hibs’ first-team squad ed by club captain David Gray headed straight from the Training Centre to spread some Christmas cheer around the wards of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
The trip was organised by the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC), which supports and complements the RHSC and worked hard to make Christmas that extra bit special for those who are in hospital.
Head Coach Jack Ross said: “I only recently joined the club but I was made aware very quickly what a special date this is in the calendar for everyone involved and the players were only too happy to head along.
“While Christmas is obviously a special time of the year it can also be a difficult period for so many so we’ll do anything we can do put a few smiles on faces.
“The players enjoyed meeting the kids and I’d like to thank Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity for helping to make Christmas magical and the staff at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children for the work that they do on a daily basis.
“They’re an inspiration to us all.”
ECHC runs a living advent calendar throughout December, which sees a different door in the hospital opened each day to reveal something special. Some of the other entertainment in store over the Christmas period includes visits from a live pipe band, the Scotland rugby squad and a performance from the Scottish ballet.
Fiona O’Sullivan, Arts Programme Manager at ECHC, said: “The football team visits to the hospital are always a huge hit with the children and young people. Some of the kids are massive football fans and avid supporters of Hibs so it really makes their day to meet their favourite players.
“Christmas is a very special time of year and we work hard to ensure no child or young person misses out on the joy and magic of the festive season. It’s the generosity of our supporters, like the Hibs players, that enables us to do this.”
Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity believes that nothing should get in the way of being a child and works to make sure children and young people’s lives are less interrupted by illness.
It distributes around £1.5 million per year to support the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and other children’s healthcare settings across Scotland.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
