Now a permanent fixture in the club’s December calendar is the annual visit to the Children’s Ward right here in Carlisle, at the Cumberland Infirmary.
And we were delighted to be made to feel like very special guests once again on Wednesday afternoon when Josh Emmanuel, Paul Huntington, Sam Lavelle, Dylan McGeouch, Jon Mellish and Owen Moxon played Santa with a delivery of presents from the players and the Blues Store, as well as donations received from Smyths Toys at Kingstown.
Commercial assistant Kerry Jardine said: "The players clubbed together to get some presents and we then spoke to Craig and the team at Smyths who also donated a number of items too.
"It was a great gesture and we really appreicate them helping us out."
Club captain Paul Huntington said: "It's never nice when you have to spend time in hospital with a little one but I can imagine it's even more difficult during the festive period.
"As a squad we wanted to try and help in a small way by spreading some festive cheer and handing out a few toys to the kids.
"We were also able to donate a Nintendo Switch to the Children's Ward which will hopefully be a good addition to the great range of toys they already have up there."
Midfelder Dylan McGeouch said: "It was nice to talk to some of the parents as well, you feel for them that they have to be in hospital during the festive period.
“It’s only a little gesture that we make when we go along to meet everybody, but it’s an important one, and that’s why we all want to go.”
Thank you to the staff at the Children's Ward for inviting us along.
