Wolves players bring warmth to youngsters

Wolves stars put smiles back on the faces of young patients in the Black Country when they dropped in to a hospital to spread Christmas cheer.

The star-studded visit was just what the doctor ordered for youngsters being treated at New Cross Hospital.

Players handed out presents and posed for pictures with youngsters on the hospital's children's ward yesterday.

Click on the image on the right to see more pictures.

Other players were out visiting patients at West Park Hospital and Penn Hall special school.

The trip to New Cross proved to be a walk down memory lane for skipper Karl Henry because it is where he was born and spent part of his childhood being treated for asthma.

The 24-year-old Wolves captain left an autographed book to be passed on to retired paediatric consultant Kieth Ross who treated the player. The inscription read: "Thanks a lot for all your help. You will be glad to hear that I am in a lot better health now."

Henry said: "This hospital holds a lot of memories for me. It is sad that children have to be in here, particularly at this time of the year, and it is great to be able to put a smile on their faces.

"I know better than most that the kids are in good hands because the staff worked wonders for me. I had regular appointments for treatment and occasional longer stays when I was younger."

Sister Mandi Rogers, who is now manager of the children's outpatients' department, but has worked in the hospital for over 20 years, revealed: "I was here when Karl was under treatment but I would not have recognised him now, he has grown a bit since then and looks the picture of health. It is the perfect pick-me-up for them to meet their heroes. These footballers are their role models and it is marvellous that they find time in their busy schedule to make a visit like this."

The visit was particularly poignant for defender Stephen Ward, 25, whose partner India gave birth to their first child, a son called Jackson, four days ago.

Manager Mick McCarthy added: "The football club is part of the community and it is important that we do our bit off the pitch as well as on it. The kids love to see the players and the players get a lot out of it as well."

Heath Park pupil Ikhraj Singh, 12, from Thetford Gardens, Wednesfield, had just come round from anaesthetic after an operation to remove a lump in his neck when he found the Wolves boss standing beside him. "I could not believe my eyes," he said. "I thought I was dreaming."