Cardiff Blues stars took time out of training to spread some Christmas cheer to children in hospitals across the region.
The entire Blues squad were out and about and met patients, family and staff at Noah’s Ark at the University Hospital of Wales, Ronald McDonald House, Cardiff, Royal Glamorgan and Ty Hafan.
A visit to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr was also planned but had to be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances on the ward.
The surprise was part of the region’s annual Christmas visits and Owen Lane, who was at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital, admitted it was an eye-opening experience.
Lane said: “It was quite a big eye-opener, there were kids younger than me on the cancer wards, which was quite shocking to see. Some of them may not be home for Christmas and their families have to come here so it’s definitely a bit of a shock.
“It’s important for the boys to get into a different environment and see some things we don’t see in our day-to-day lives and like I said was inspiring, eye-opening and will probably have an effect on me when I go home and think about it.”
Lane took particular inspiration from a remarkably positive patient on the teenage cancer ward, who was also a keen rugby-player.
Several players accompanied him while he received his latest course of chemotherapy and they were blown away by his attitude.
Lane continued: “It was quite inspiring actually. He is still so positive having the treatment which was inspiring to see. We sat with him while he was having his chemo and he was just telling us about a trip he is going on to Newcastle with his mates.”
It was a particularly humbling afternoon for Nick Williams, Blaine Scully, Kristian Dacey, Corey Domachowski and James Botham, who visited Ty Hafan.
The hospice in Penarth is one of the UK’s leading paediatric palliative care charities and offers care to children and support for their families, throughout Wales. Since opening in 1999, Ty Hafan has supported more than 600 life-limited children.
The players spent almost two hours at the hospice, playing games with the inspiring patients, thoroughly enjoying the visit, which provided plenty of perspective.
Williams tweeted: “Absolute privilege to visit the awesome facilities ?@tyhafan and meet some beautiful children, puts everything in perspective ?#Christmasspirit”
Back in Cardiff, Macauley Cook was on hand to show his teammates around Ronald McDonald House, where he is an ambassador.
The facility provides free accommodation for the families of children at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, for a prolonged period.
Cook added: “It’s sad enough for young children to be in hospital at Christmas-time, let alone when their families are so far away and can’t get to them or are having to sleep in the hospital or their car.
“There’s 24 families currently staying there, it has 32 rooms, so it’s brilliant to see the impact it has on the families and the kids. It’s an brilliant charity.”