Leicester Hospitals Charity, official charity of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) are proud to partner with Leicester City Football Club to deliver support, celebration and festive cheer for local patients, families and NHS colleagues across Leicester’s Hospitals.

Over the weekend, Leicester Hospitals Charity was the chosen charity and featured on the front of shirts as the main sponsor during Leicester City’s men’s and women’s fixtures at King Power Stadium. The men’s first team took on Ipswich Town, while the women faced London City Lionesses.  The Charity took the opportunity with the Club to raise awareness and vital funds for their Parent Facilities Appeal.

The appeal will help create private, comfortable spaces for parents of critically ill children to remain close to their loved ones in Leicester Royal Infirmary’s Children’s Intensive Care Unit.  This will ensure families have somewhere to go to away from the bedside but remain close during the most challenging moments of their lives. Match-worn and signed shirts from both fixtures are being auctioned, with all proceeds going directly towards this appeal.

Following the weekend’s matches, Leicester City’s men’s first-team players visited Leicester Children’s Hospital on Wednesday 17 December, bringing festive cheer to young patients, their families and hospital staff. Joined by Filbert Fox, the players delivered Christmas gifts, shared smiles and spent time on the wards talking to parents, young patients and staff, creating moments of joy and excitement during the festive period.

The visit was uplifting for patients, families and NHS staff, whose dedication continues throughout the Christmas period.

Leicester City captain Ricardo Pereira said: “Visits like this are always incredibly special for us. To be able to spend some time with the children, their families and the brilliant hospital staff, particularly at this time of year, is a real privilege.

“If we can help bring a few smiles and provide a positive distraction, even for a short time, it’s a powerful reminder of why these visits matter.”

Sunita Patel, Head of Charity at Leicester Hospitals Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Leicester City Football Club for their continued support and the opportunities that our longstanding partnership gives us. From the visibility as the chosen charity during the weekend’s matches to the men’s first team visit, this partnership has helped raise awareness about our appeal and vital funds, while also bringing joy, comfort and smiles to patients, families and staff during the festive period.”

Simon Barton, Deputy Chief Executive of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: “The visit from Leicester City Football Club was a wonderful boost for our patients and staff. Seeing the joy on the children’s faces brought smiles and festive cheer to the wards, reminding everyone of the incredible support from our local football club. This is more than a visit – it’s a partnership that brings hope and happiness to our community.”

To find out more about the Parent Facilities Appeal and how you can support families at Leicester’s hospitals, click here.