Doncaster sports stars shine bright for kids on the children’s ward

Manager Darren Ferguson led the annual visit to the wards and was joined by a host of first team stars to hand out gifts and cheer up youngsters facing Christmas in hospital.

Representatives of Rovers and Doncaster Rugby League Club joined forces to give out a variety of gifts – including an iPad – on the children’s ward, as well as at Bluebell Wood, a local children’s hospice.

Players from the club, including Andy Butler, Thorsten Stuckmann, Andy Williams and Jordi Hedges, joined Dons chief executive Carl Hall as they visited numerous children and their families on the ward.

Star striker Andy Williams underlined the importance of taking time out to visit the youngsters.

“It’s really important that we do visits like this.

“Christmas is a special time of year and no-one wants to be in hospital at this time,” he said.

“It’s hard seeing the kids who are so poorly, but if we can put a smile on their face for a few minutes during the day and give them something to remember while giving them a present, then it’s the least we can do in our position.

“Hopefully, there were some smiling children.”

Jane Morgan, class teacher at Doncaster Royal Infirmary hospital school, thanked the clubs.

She said: “Once again thank you to Doncaster Rovers and Doncaster Rugby League Club for their generous Christmas gifts for the children.

“It really gives the kids and their families a great boost when they are poorly at Christmas.”

The importance of the visit was backed up by members of staff at Club Doncaster.

Marketing and communications manager Ryan Murrant said: “It’s great that the players and management were so actively involved in our visits.

“We have all worked closely with the DRI and Bluebell Wood to ensure that we take gifts that are relevant to the needs of the care centres, but also to those children who unfortunately require care at this time.

“I would like to thank the staff at the DRI and Bluebell Wood for welcoming us all and for exposing us to the great work that they do, we mustn’t forget that.”