Members of the first team squad helped bring some festive cheer to the Royal Hospital for Children & Young People last night.
Hearts skipper Lawrence Shankland was joined by Alex Cochrane and Finlay Pollock, as they teamed up with a brave young patient for the big switch on of the Christmas lights outside the building.
11-year-old Poppy Porteous, who lives with Crohn’s disease, got to flick the switch alongside the players as a little Christmas magic came to the RHCYP.
The club looks forward to meeting children and families at the hospital later this month when the squad make their annual visit.
Pippa Johnston, Deputy CEO at ECHC, said: “We would like to say an enormous thank you to Poppy and her wonderful family, and the players from Hearts, for helping to make the hospital’s Christmas light switch on so memorable. Poppy is an inspiration and has shown so much strength and resilience in coping with her condition and so many hospital visits at such a young age.
“Every year, in partnership with our friends at NHS Lothian, ECHC works hard to make time spent in hospital a little bit brighter through our daily fun activities, family support service and hardship fund.
“At Christmas, this becomes even more vital, but we rely solely on donations to do this. Though we can’t stop their pain, we can deliver happiness. We are asking the people of Edinburgh to make Christmas extra special for children in hospital this year.”
