Youngsters are thanked by nurses and doctors for their generous gesture
A squad of junior rugby league players have made a heart-warming donation to a children’s ward at Hull Royal Infirmary. Hull Wyke U6’s pledged to bring some joy to poorly youngsters by drumming up a bumper collection of toys, books, board games and stickers.
On Thursday (November 6) evening, a group of six-year-old boys from the 27-strong side were able to visit Woodland Ward to hand over their donations, some of which were newly-bought toys, some preloved by the junior rugby players. It was the idea of Reece Lazenby, who runs the U6’s team at the Cropton Road-based club.
Reece said: “My son, who is one of the players, was on the ward two years ago with a serious chest infection. He was in there over a week and the toy room really put a smile on his face.
“I said, ‘I’ll make sure I come back one day and get you some donations’. I asked the parents of the kids at the club to help and they have been absolutely phenomenal – I reckon you could fill a couple of children’s wards with what they gave, not just one.
“These kids are only six, so haven’t been able to express exactly what they feel about doing this, but they did say they felt warm inside and proud. I think this is a great life lesson and that it’s good to be kind and to share.”
Reece said the nurses on the ward and a couple of doctors came to see the 19 boys, whose parents were waiting downstairs in the hospital, to thank them for all the items and their kindness. “One of the items was a full wooden kitchen with all the bits and pieces, food, an air fryer, and so on.
“It was one of the lads’ new-but-used toys and the hospital were so pleased. Theirs had just broken and they said it was one of most-played-with things they had.
“I know how much those toys are going to do for the children in there. I think it was when the staff came to see the boys, myself and the club manager, that the boys realised how big a thing this would be for the ward.”
Reece said he was also aware how, with Christmas coming up, families would be stretched which made the generosity of all concerned so much more meaningful. Earlier in the year, Hull Wyke had a charity day and raised £200 to help children with brain tumours.
Reece has been training a lot of the boys since they were three. He said: “We are aiming to do something every year for a good cause, something for the boys to organise to show it’s nice to be nice.
“Rugby is more about how you are as a person, it’s about morals. You learn that on and off the pitch.
“Our club is friendship first and with that comes kindness and sharing.”