Liverpool FC men’s team hosted a virtual Christmas visit with Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust this month to surprise some very special patients and their families and spread some festive cheer.
It’s been a longstanding tradition that the Reds visit Alder Hey Children’s Hospital every December, laden with LFC goodies to meet with patients and staff. But due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, an in-person visit to the hospital has not been possible for the second year running.
However, this didn’t stop the Reds, with several players including Mo Salah, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane, Virgil Van Dijk, and manager, Jurgen Klopp, taking time out from their busy training schedule to chat with young patients and their families and sign some extra special LFC gifts for them.
The virtual calls, which are part of LFC’s Operation Christmas Magic campaign and Alder Hey’s Christmas Wishes campaign, help to raise the spirits of young patients currently receiving treatment and experiencing or recovering from a really difficult time in their lives.
You can watch highlights of their Christmas virtual visit here:
Captain Jordan Henderson said: “It’s a shame that we are unable to visit the hospital again this year, but we still had so much fun meeting the youngsters and their families virtually.
“This visit is something that is really important to all the lads and one that we look forward to every year.
“On behalf of the players and the club, I’d like to extend my thanks to all the staff at the hospital, for the truly remarkable work they do day in day out and especially in the current circumstances – they really are amazing.”
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, which is one of Europe’s biggest and busiest children’s hospitals, cares for over 330,000 children, young people and their families every year. Alder Hey is currently fundraising for a brand new, state of the art Surgical Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) as part of their Christmas appeal. If you would like to donate, please visit – https://www.alderheycharity.org/christmas-appeal
For more information on the Club’s activities as part of its LFC Operation Christmas Magic campaign, please visit https://foundation.liverpoolfc.com/christmas-in-your-community
