Dartford FC donate Christmas presents to sick children in hospital

KentOnline / KMTV

Darent Valley hospital in Dartford says the festive season is one of the busiest times of the year for its Children's ward.

Transcript

00:00A showcase with some players.

00:02Players, these are Dartford.

00:05Yeah!

00:07We're not Liverpool.

00:11From footballers to Santa's helpers,

00:14these players from Dartford Football Club

00:16have traded their boot bags for bags of toys this Christmas

00:19as they hand out gifts and chocolates

00:21to the children here at Darrent Valley's Willow Ward.

00:24This is Ariana and she was born at 33 weeks

00:27so because her body wasn't fully developed when she was born

00:32she doesn't cope very well with certain coughs and colds and everything

00:37so she's very vulnerable to things.

00:39Being back here is a very scary thing

00:42but honestly, this is wonderful.

00:46It's really made her day.

00:48You see how excited that she's been

00:50and as mum, thank you.

00:52A bit emotional but we all know that it's for a good cause

00:56and for something that's going to just put a little smile

00:59and cheer people up.

01:01It's nice to see some of them might not even go home

01:04so to give them something to do over Christmas

01:07and keep them occupied whilst they're poorly is quite nice.

01:10Some of the children are just too poorly for us to take our cameras in

01:13but from what I've seen it's clear that every donation,

01:15every toy handed out has led to a smile on the faces of the families

01:19who are having to spend their Christmas here.

01:22Much like for the patients, those in charge here at the hospital

01:25say this time of year can be very difficult

01:27with vast numbers of patients being admitted.

01:30Over the past few years, Christmas has been so busy on the ward.

01:33We get so many children coming in and out.

01:35If it weren't for the likes of Dartford Football Club

01:38that have supported us over the years,

01:40the kids wouldn't hardly get any presents.

01:42It's hard for a child being in hospital any time of the year

01:46but especially Christmas,

01:48so we do try and make it a bit more fun and uplifting for them.

01:53As well as toys, the Dartford Supporters Group

01:55gave a cash donation of £250 to Down Valley's premature baby unit

02:00after one of its members, Gary, spent two weeks there with his wife

02:03when their twins were born early.

02:05They were seven weeks early so we had obviously a lot going on with that

02:10and we spent two and a half weeks in the special care baby unit

02:14so it's played a very important part in their lives with that.

02:17It was difficult because you don't know how things are going to go at that point.

02:22You don't know.

02:23We were assured that everything was going to be fine,

02:25it just took a bit of time,

02:26but they are both absolutely fine

02:28and they've got a chance at the world now.

02:30Six months on and Audrey and Spencer are well and healthy

02:33in time for their first Christmases at home.

02:36But whilst the children admitted here may be forced to spend their Christmas

02:39surrounded by the walls of a hospital,

02:41at least it's a festive season that can now be kicked off with a smile.

02:45Bartholomew Hall for KMTV in Dartford.

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