Cod Army visit Trinity Hospice in Bispham
Fleetwood Town Football Club’s players and management team visited Brian House Children Hospice on Tuesday afternoon.Manager Graham Alexander handed out Christmas presents to the children, which included Fleetwood Town shirts and accessories, as well as a copy of FIFA 15.
First teamers Conor McLaughlin Stephen Crainey, Keith Southern, Steven Schumacher, Gareth Evans, Josh Morris, Antoni Sarcevic, Nick Haughton, Jamille Matt and David Ball were all present.
Players were shown around the hospice’s facilities, which include specially designed bedrooms, music therapy areas as well as a sensory room.
Brian House is a specialist unit within Trinity Hospice specialising in palliative care for children, and caters entirely for children who live on Fylde Coast.
The hospice opened in December 1996 to provide a specialist children’s service under the umbrella of Trinity, and provides a ‘home from home’ environment for children and young adults from within the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre areas who have life threatening and/or life limiting conditions.
The respite care, which is provided at the hospice at regular intervals, gives families the opportunity to experience times of relief and normality.
Alexander said: “The work the people do here is superb. The reason for the children being here is a sad one but the work the staff do to look after the kids and their families is brilliant.
“They asked us to come along last year and it was a great pleasure to do so, and of course we wanted to come back this year as well.
“The hard thing is that the government only give so much money to this facility, meaning that the hospice have to raise a lot just to keep it going.
“Football is a sport, but sometimes it can to taken a little bit too seriously, and the serious things in life are highlighted in places like Brian House.”
Play worker at the hospice, Sue Pelling, who recently received a lifetime achievement award at the Radio Wave heroes in the community ceremony was delighted to see the Club visit Brian House.
She said: “It gives the children a boost to see the players and manager come in but it also gives us as staff a boost as well which is really important.
“Some days we have sad days here but we really enjoy the happy days and making memories for the families, and Fleetwood Town’s players have certainly done that.”
The Fleetwood Town players have all donated their own money to help Brian House continue the fantastic work they do.
To view a gallery from the visit please click here