Millwall spread festive cheer to LGT patients
Millwall Football Club players visited University Hospital Lewisham (UHL) yesterday (Tuesday 5 December) to deliver Christmas cheer and gifts to sick babies, children and patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Players and club staff brought sacks of presents for an afternoon playing Santa. Gifts included official club pennants, water bottles and Zampa soft toys - as well as the chance to take photos. One of our colleagues even treated the Millwall players to a bespoke Millwall Christmas song.
First stop for the team was the children’s wards, where many young patients will be spending Christmas. Then the players met adult patients in Suite 8 at UHL, which specialises in cancer care.
Joseph Tsangarides, patient on Suite 8, said: "This visit really lifted my spirits and gave me a real boost that I needed. I was feeling down and was about to call the Macmillan Support Line, but the players walked in and picked me up. Thank you Millwall."
Joseph with the Millwall team
Billy Mitchell, Millwall Midfielder, explained: "Christmas is about giving and spending time with loved ones and some people in hospital haven't got that opportunity at the minute. We thought we'd come down and try and raise some spirits, give a bit of Christmas cheer and speak to some of the children and adults, give out a few gifts and hopefully put some smiles on their faces."
Laura Crome, Matron for Children and Young People Services, added: "We would like to give our sincere thanks to Millwall Football Club for their visit and continued support to University Hospital Lewisham. The team were generous with their time and gifts, and they posed for many photographs. It was brilliant to see so many happy, smiling children, families, and staff. It was also a great opportunity for them to 'kickstart' our Children’s Christmas toy appeal."
With Christmas just around the corner, you can also bring a smile to the faces throughout the LGT wards by donating to the Christmas Toy Appeal.
The Trust Charity is inviting local communities give a gift to our young patients at University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital who are too ill to go home and spend Christmas with their families. Click here to make a difference this Christmas!
You can also donate new toys in the original packaging such as baby toys, educational toys, arts and crafts sets, board games and toiletries gift sets. The Trust charity asks that you do not wrap your gifts and are unable to accept cuddly toys.
Toys can be dropped off at University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s main reception, between 10am and 3pm each day until 22 December.
With Christmas just around the corner, you can also bring a smile to the faces throughout the LGT wards by donating to the Christmas Toy Appeal.
The Trust Charity is inviting local communities give a gift to our young patients at University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital who are too ill to go home and spend Christmas with their families. Click here to make a difference this Christmas!
You can also donate new toys in the original packaging such as baby toys, educational toys, arts and crafts sets, board games and toiletries gift sets. The Trust charity asks that you do not wrap your gifts and are unable to accept cuddly toys.
Toys can be dropped off at University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s main reception, between 10am and 3pm each day until 22 December.
Millwall team with our colleagues on children's ward at UHL
Millwall team with our colleagues on Suite 8 at UHL
