First-team players, our Foundation, and the Dons Local Action Group combined to continue the Christmas tradition of delivering gifts to children at St George’s Hospital in Tooting.
Covid-19 restrictions prevented club staff from presenting toys and club merchandise in person to children at the facility, but hospital staff were delighted to pass them onto patients after our delivery yesterday.
AFC Wimbledon Foundation Director Philip Rudling said: “We were really delighted to visit St George’s Hospital yesterday with the Dons Local Action Group. It was just a pity we were unable to deliver presents to the wards with the players. However, the children’s ward staff were really pleased to see us and it was great for us to keep the excellent link with St George’s going. I would like to thank Lily McConnell from DLAG as she was instrumental in helping to organise the toys this year and to expand the amount of donations to three other hospitals and local families in need.”
Glyn Hodges said: “It’s great, and we do it every year. We normally go around the wards and hand out Christmas presents, but because of the circumstances we couldn’t do that. The boys are always more than happy to do it and afterwards they also went to the hub for the Dons Local Action Group, so they had an eventful day. I went to the hospital in the last two years. You moan and groan about losing games and injuries, but then you see how some of these kids are and it puts things into perspective.”
In addition to the hospital visit, Glyn, Nick Daws and five first-team players have been involved in social phone calls to our elderly supporters in recent weeks, working alongside our Foundation staff. This is a gesture that was very well received during lockdown with many people isolated in their own homes for long spells.
