The Newcastle United men first-team squad visited wards at local hospitals on Tuesday 10 December to help kick-off the festive spirit, as part of the club’s annual ‘A Helping Hand at Christmas’ campaign.
Head coach Eddie Howe and his assistant Jason Tindall led a team of players to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, with a group also making an appearance at the Freeman Hospital to spend time with young patients and their families.
The visit, organised in conjunction with Newcastle Hospitals Charity, provided a chance for patients to meet their heroes, while also allowing players to connect with NHS staff who will spend the festive period caring for the community within hospitals nearby to St. James’ Park.
Players including Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães spent the afternoon signing autographs, posing for photos and handing out club goody bags.
This year’s gifts included a bespoke Newcastle United teddy bear, featuring a black and white shirt recycled from last year’s playing kits; cutting waste material and providing youngsters with a sustainable keepsake. The shirts were sewn by linen room staff at the Freeman Hospital, with Newcastle United Academy players also assisting the process by helping to place shirts on more than 120 bears.
Speaking at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Bruno Guimarães commented: “It’s always nice to spend these moments with patients and staff as we know how much it means to them. As a club, we’re passionate about our connection with the community so visits like this are incredibly valuable.
“We’re all extremely proud to have a chance to create memories with kids and give them some strength for the Christmas period. It’s been a heartwarming afternoon and has really lifted the spirits of everyone involved.”
Rachael Black, associate director (fundraising) at Newcastle Hospitals Charity, said: “A big thank you to everyone from Newcastle United for coming along to visit our young patients at the RVI and Freeman Hospital. Each December, around 2,000 children spend the festive season in one of our hospitals, away from friends and family, which isn’t anybody’s first choice. So, we try really hard to make the festive period as cheerful as possible with a full programme of activity.
“Support for Newcastle Hospitals Charity comes in lots of different forms and a visit from NUFC helped provide just the medicine our young patients and their families needed to help raise the spirits.”
The visits were organised as part of the club’s annual A Helping Hand at Christmas campaign which is a series of community pledges, including tackling food poverty, providing warm safe spaces and creating magical experiences for local people during the festive period.
More information about the A Helping Hand at Christmas campaign can be found here.
