It’s not often you have world champions on the wards at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, but patients had a treat as Wigan Warriors paid a special visit to Royal Preston Hospital on Tuesday 17 December.
The Cherry and Whites, the world’s most successful Rugby League club, have generously given their time to raise spirits at the hospital since 2017 – barring the COVID-19 pandemic.
And hours before the club was named BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year, they spread cheer on Rosemere Cancer Centre’s in-patient Ribblesdale Ward, the Children’s Ward, the Children’s Clinic and Paediatric Emergency Department.
The Warriors players – Tyler Dupree, Harvie Hill, Lukas Mason, George Hirst and Kaitlin Hilton - showed safe hands to give out Christmas gifts including chocolates and toys, and chat to patients and their families.
Thanks go to the Warriors for making the visit possible, as well as business network group BNI Endeavour, who meet every Tuesday morning at 6am at Oak Royal Golf Club in Withnell, Chorley. This year the group have raised over £25,000 for Rosemere and most recently purchased gifts for the Ribblesdale Ward patients who will be in hospital on Christmas Day. They also provided mince pies and a wipeable tree for the ward.
Danielle Jackson, Ribblesdale Ward manager, said: “Thanks to Wigan Warriors for taking the time out to visit the ward and the hospital, the patients and staff really appreciate it, particularly at this time of year. It helps lift everyone’s spirits. And thanks to BNI Endeavour for all their help and generosity. The gifts will be very welcome, and the tree helps brighten up the ward.”
Warriors prop forward Tyler Dupree was delighted to help bring some festive cheer: “Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but some families are going through hardships, and we’re in a privileged position to be able to do what we do. We just want to spread a little joy to the families who need it at the moment. It gives us a real reality check, and everyone enjoys doing it. We are a family-oriented club, and we’ve met people who are Wigan fans, and some who don’t know who we are, but it’s nice to extend that family and bring some smiles to people’s faces.”
Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria being treated not only at Rosemere Cancer Centre, the region’s specialist cancer treatment and radiotherapy centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, but also at another eight local hospital cancer units across the two counties.
The charity funds cutting edge equipment, research, training and other cancer services and therapies that the NHS is unable to afford. For further information on its work, including how to make a donation, visit rosemere.org.uk
