Hammers bring festive cheer

  • by Staff Writer
  • Wednesday, 5th December 2012

Festive cheer arrived yesterday at Whipps Cross Hospital when players from West Ham United paid a visit to patients and staff.

Captain Kevin Nolan along with Andy Carroll, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Winston Reid, James Tomkins, Joey O’Brien, Matt Jarvis and Modibo Maiga dropped in to see everyone in the Acorn children’s ward at the Leytonstone hospital.

All the players gave out goody bags and presents, as well as taking time to chat to the children and their families and having photographs and signing autographs.

Skipper Nolan said he and the players were only too pleased to put some smiles on the faces of those having to spend time over Christmas in hospital. "It means a lot to see them just smile and that by us visiting, it has given them a boost," he said.

"I am a dad myself so I can understand what the mums and dads are going through when they are by their children’s bedsides and the concerns you have and so if we can give them something positive about by being here, then that is a great thing.

"I think what they do, the doctors and nurses, all the staff, is just fantastic. They were really pleased to see us which is really nice, but we were only too pleased to be here."

A personal donation from all the players was presented by Nolan to the ward and that money will be used to benefit the patients and staff of the Acorn ward in a variety of ways both now and in the future.

The visit is just one of several the players take part in during the season and the visit to a local hospital in the community at Christmas time is an annual fixture in the team diary.


West Ham players with nursing staff from the Acorn ward at Whipps Cross Hospital


* Images courtesy of West Ham United

* Something to say about this story? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.



More News