Sheffield United players have ball with children at hospice

Team captain Chris Basham was joined by Bob Harris, Che Adams and John Brayford at Bluebell Wood, where they were invited to open a refurbished play room.

Players visit the hospice every year before Christmas to meet and hand out gifts to sick youngsters.

This year they opened a play room, which has doubled in size to provide more room for wheelchairs and medical equipment.

Diane Price, Activity Co-ordinator at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, said: “We are absolutely thrilled and delighted with our fabulous new room and we’re so thankful that Sheffield United have been able to open it – it’s made it extra special.

“The new room will provide hours of fun for our children and families using the hospice. Helping to make memories like this and surrounding people with love and laughter is at the very heart of what we do.”

To help pay for the refurbishment, The Rotherham Clinical Commissioning Group awarded the hospice a £15,000 grant.

Dave McCarthy, Operations Director at Sheffield United, said: “Sheffield United are delighted to be given the opportunity to officially open the messy play room at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice during the Christmas visit for the players this year.

“Everyone at the Blades knows what a fantastic place Bluebell Wood is, this year many of our players who hadn’t visited before were able to come to see the superb facilities and meet some of the wonderful patients and their families.”

The hospice offers care to children with life limiting conditions and supports their families.