CARDIFF CITY: DELIVERING CHRISTMAS SMILES

Club News

As the countdown to Christmas neared it's end, members of the Cardiff City squad continued showcasing their festive cheer in joining our youthful fans at the annual Supporter’s Club children’s party on Sunday 21st December. Numerous first team players including Kenwyne Jones, Tom Adeyemi, Peter Whittingham and David Marshall stopped by, getting involved with party games and pictures with all those in attendance. Our thanks to the Supporter’s Club for inviting the players along to this cheerful celebration.

A busy festive period also included the first team squad’s involvement with the Save the Children Christmas appeal. The ‘Christmas Jumper Day’ earlier in the month saw a number of City stars, including Kiko Macheda, Peter Whittingham, Ben Turner as well as the Cardiff City Stadium staff pose in rather fetching Christmas attire to help launch the campaign in South Wales.

Speaking of the campaign, Turner said: “Cardiff City supports the Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day campaign and we urge others to have a go as well. It’s getting colder so the players welcomed the chance to wrap up warm on the pitch for a few minutes for a good cause.”
This December, the senior side split into two groups to drop by on Tŷ Hafan hospice and the Heath Hospital while the U18 apprentices visited the Royal Glamorgan Hospital’s children’s ward.

Cardiff City are pleased to continue its support of Tŷ Hafan, having been one of the Club’s primary charities in recent years. The players were shown around the hospice to see first-hand the care and support offered to young people and their families.

Eleanor Ryan, Business and Community Fundraiser at Tŷ Hafan said: “We are thrilled that Cardiff City FC players visited us. They made lots of families very happy and were fantastic with all the children. They made mince pies, watched the panto and helped pick our Christmas raffle winners. We are also really pleased that their CEO, Ken Choo, also came along to see what we do. We are incredibly grateful for their support and they definitely helped to make Christmas even more special for our families.”

The visit to Heath Hospital came about in conjunction with the Dreams and Wishes Charity, backed by First Team Physiotherapist Adam Rattenberry, with new charity ambassador Craig Noone also voicing his support for the campaign.

Craig said of the visit: "The Club has been visiting The Children’s Hospital for Wales for many years now and it’s such a special place. Our visit is always a day of mixed emotions, but it’s always nice to meet the children and their families and create as many smiles as we can.

"I have admired the work Dreams & Wishes have done over the last few years through their association with the Club and was delighted when asked to be a part of this inspirational Charity. It’s important to the players and the club to give something back and provide positivity to our young fans, many of whom are facing tough times."

Sarah Lloyd, Deputy Directorate Head of Operations and Delivery at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospitalfor Wales said "On behalf of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales, I would like to thank all the players of Cardiff City Football Club for spending time with our patients and families and brightening up their day!"

The charity is dedicated to making a difference to the lives of seriously ill children and their families. While there the players spent time chatting to patients and their families, while posing for photos and signing autographs. A massive Cardiff City thank you must go to Donna Crook and Hasbro UK for donating presents to both Dreams & Wishes and Tŷ Hafan.

To find out more about the above charities, visit www.savethechildren.org.uk, www.dreamsandwishescharity.org, and www.tyhafan.org