Kai Havertz helped make Christmas special for a multitude of young patients at a London hospital when he paid them a surprise visit and handed out gifts.
The Chelsea star, now back preparing for our game against Bournemouth on 27 December following his participation in the World Cup, chatted with the children at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, spending his time on the Great Western and Grand Union wards there.
Havertz also brought festive cheer to the children’s outpatients department and haematology day unit as he stopped to meet young football fans and their families, many of whom will be in hospital over the holiday period.
As well as meeting him, the children also received signed Chelsea shirts, toys, games and other gifts donated by Kai and his partner Sophia Weber, plus other football-themed gifts and toys donated by the Chelsea FC Foundation.
‘To see children who have been in hospital for several weeks have the chance to meet one of their football heroes truly is a magical thing,’ said Tina Halton, play specialist at St Mary's Hospital.
‘No child wants to be in hospital at Christmas and this time of year can be particularly tough for children and young people with serious illnesses and health conditions that require ongoing care, so having the opportunity to meet one of their football heroes really helped to spread some festive cheer.
‘We’re so grateful to Kai and Sophia, to the Chelsea Football Club Foundation and to Imperial Health Charity for their incredible support.’
Every year thousands of seriously ill children from across the UK are treated at St Mary’s, which provides one of the strongest general paediatric services in the country.