Super League Champions Leeds Rhinos and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation helped spread some festive cheer at the Leeds Children’s Hospital during their annual visit to the children’s wards at Leeds General Infirmary.
The whole squad were on hand, along with mascot Ronnie the Rhino, to hand out presents purchased by the Leeds Rhinos Foundation to the children and pose for photos with the young patients and their families.
As well as the individual gifts, the club were also able to hand over larger presents to the wards from the money raised by Rhinos star Adam Cuthbertson through the sale of his shirts and training clothes at the end of the season. For the past two years, the Rhinos star has gone into the hospital on Christmas Day to hand out presents but with him still at home in Australia, the squad did it on his behalf. Over £2,000 was raised and the club were able to purchase a new large television, a PS4 games console, several portable DVD players and board games for use by all on the wards.
Commenting on the visit Rhinos star Richie Myler said, “It is great to be able to come down and show our support for the young fans. It is tough for them and their families to be in hospital, especially at this time of year, and if we can help in any way to put a smile on their faces then that is great.”
The Rhinos were also able to show their support for the nursing staff working at the hospital with each member of staff on the children’s wards given a Christmas gift of two tickets to The Clash, the massive game on 8th February between Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR at Elland Road.
Leon Crick from the Leeds Rhinos Foundation commented, “This is always an event in our calendar that the players look forward to. We have been working hard over the last few weeks to wrap over 300 presents to take down and the players, as always, were a real credit to the club.”