The full Leeds Rhinos squad joined Leeds Rhinos Foundation for their annual visit to the Children’s Wards at Leeds General Infirmary to meet the patients and share their treble winning success by taking the three trophies along with them for the visit.
The players and Ronnie the Rhino gave out presents, including t-shirts and teddy bears which had been donated by Leeds Rhinos Foundation, and spent time chatting with the children and their parents.
Caring Leeds Rhinos rugby players rounded off their year of success with a Christmas visit to poorly children at Leeds General Infirmary.
The whole team brought along t-shirts, teddy bears and playing cards for the children – as well as the three major trophies they won this year.
Players cuddled babies on the wards, and posed for photographs with many eager fans – both children and parents.
Second-row Josh Walters said: “Seeing the kids today makes you realise you need to stop whinging. It’s nice to spread some Christmas cheer, and put smiles on their faces.”
Harry Sunderland winner Danny McGuire said the yearly visit was something the entire squad enjoys doing. “It’s really good to come down here and visit the Children’s Ward,” said McGuire. “It’s tough sometimes as you see some really poorly children and it puts everything into perspective. It’s really nice to go down the different wards and to see the different families and speak with them and put a smile on their faces, giving out a few presents and bring that Christmas cheer along and myself and all the lads enjoy doing it.
“The presents have been donated by Leeds Rhinos Foundation, and they are brilliant at stuff like this and it is a great touch and a chance for them to open a sneaky present before Christmas Day, which is always nice as a kid and we ought to try and get some Rhinos and we hope we can welcome some of these children at a Rhinos game when they start to feel a bit better.”
Among the presents given out as gifts were Leeds Rhinos’ very own Top Trumps cards featuring stars of the Golden Decade. Leeds Rhinos are the first rugby team to get their own Top Trumps deck thanks to a partnership between Leeds Rhinos Foundation and Yorkshire-based national charity Heart Research UK
The pack has been produced as part of Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s ‘Heart of Gold’ which is funded by Heart Research UK, and each card will also promote a positive healthy heart message. As part of the legacy of the project, each child participating will receive a free pack of collectable Top Trumps which they can continue to play and spread the healthy heart message with friends and family.
Heart Research UK’s Lifestyle Officer, Vicki Litherland, who joined the squad on their visit to hand out the cards said: “'his is a really exciting project using Leeds Rhinos players as positive role models to inspire children in Leeds to make heart-healthy choices. We hope that by continuing to play with the Top Trumps cards at home children will share what they have learnt with the whole family, messages which will last for years to come.
“The Heart of Gold project aims to encourage children in Leeds to look after their hearts using the Leeds Rhinos players as healthy, positive role models. It was fantastic to be able to share the Top Trumps cards with children at the hospital and brighten up their Christmas with a visit from Ronnie and the players.”
A short video of the event is available to view below: