Blues players make special visit to Heartlands Hospital

The children being treated on the children’s wards at Heartlands Hospital had some very special visitors come to see them this week. Birmingham City stars Harlee Dean and Wes Harding visited the hospital to deliver gifts to the delighted children, marking the beginning of a new charity appeal.

Heartlands Hospital Charity, the official charity of the hospital, has launched a new fundraising appeal which is aiming to raise £500,000 to renovate the children’s areas at the hospital, making them brighter and more child-friendly.

The Blues players made the short trip from St Andrews over to Heartlands Hospital to visit the children on the wards, some of whom had been there for a long time. Bringing with them plenty of Blues gifts, the players helped to brighten up the children’s days, and brought a smile to the faces of the parents and staff on the ward as well.

Blue central defender, Wes Harding, said: “It’s been great visiting the hospital and nice to put smiles on the kids’ faces. The work the hospital is doing is fantastic and it’s good to see the money raised will be used to make children’s and parents’ experience of the hospital better.”

The fundraising appeal will change the face of the children’s areas across Heartlands Hospital, giving the treatment rooms, corridors and play areas a much-needed makeover. The appeal is also raising money to renovate the garden outside the children’s wards, which is currently an uninviting space. The new garden will be fully accessible, so children in bed can still enjoy some fresh air alongside their fellow patients and their siblings.

The renovation will also help to improve the parent’s accommodation on the ward, providing an oasis of calm for parents to rest whilst their child is being treated.

Sian Averill, Fundraising Manager at Heartlands Hospital Charity, said: “The Charity’s thanks go to Harlee, Wes, and everyone at Birmingham City Football Club for coming along to Heartlands Hospital. They helped to raise everyone’s spirits on the wards, both children and adults alike. It was so special to the children’s faces as they saw their footballing heroes coming onto the ward.

“The Charity is incredibly proud to have launched the new children’s appeal, with your help we will be able to transform the children’s areas across the hospital. The care on offer is of an exceptional standard, and we want the environment to match this. The new facilities will make life easier for the 56,000 children who are treated at Heartlands Hospital each year.”

To find out more about the children’s appeal, or to donate, please click here.

The children on the ward were delighted to meet their footballing heroes.

Harlee Dean and Wes Harding came to announce their support for the children's appeal.