Leicester City players brightened up the day for patients during a pre-Christmas tour of the city's three main hospitals.
The entire City squad took time out from preparations for their table-topping match with Burnley on Saturday to spread a bit of festive cheer.
Yesterday's visit saw the footballers hand out gifts, stop for a chat, sign autographs and pose for pictures at the Royal, Glenfield and General hospitals.
Keeper Kasper Schmeichel, strikers David Nugent and Chris Wood, and midfielders Danny Drinkwater and Matty James were among nine players to meet patients and staff at Glenfield Hospital.
For season ticket holder Mariusz Gregory, who has cystic fibrosis – a chronic condition effecting his lungs and digestive system – the visit was just the tonic.
"It's a massive boost for me," said the 27-year-old, from Stoney Stanton, who has spent the past 16 days undergoing intensive treatment.
"I'm a big football fan and City is my team, so it's really nice to see the players take the time out to come and visit us."
Mariusz said that he hoped to be fit enough to be at the King Power stadium on Saturday, and chatted about the game to Nugent.
Schmeichel spent time talking to parents Angela and Andrew Preston, from Narborough, whose nine-week-old twin daughter, Annabelle, was born with pulmonary atresia, a condition in which blood cannot flow properly from the heart into the lungs.
"It's lovely that the players made the effort and came in to see the patients," said Angela, 31. "Kasper was a real gentleman."
The players gathered round the bedside of fan Dorothy Sterland, from Syston, to sing happy birthday on her 81st birthday.
"It was fantastic!" said Dorothy, who is being treated for cancer.
"I'm a lifelong City fan and it was a lovely surprise to see the lads – it's definitely made my day!"
Schmeichel said: "It's been a good experience but a very humbling one. I've got young kids myself and it's not nice to see some of them so ill. You can't imagine what their parents are going through. But if we can help in some small way then that's fantastic."
The other players who visited the hospitals were striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher, midfielder Dean Hammond, winger Lloyd Dyer and defender Paul Konchesky.
Gary said: "It's good to give a bit back and I hope we've managed to put a smile on a few faces for 10 or 15 minutes.
"Seeing what people are going through and the great jobs the staff do puts things into perspective a little. Football is not everything."
Elizabeth Aryeetey, deputy head of nursing at Glenfield, said: "Everyone has been so excited. We have a lot of City fans who miss their football when they're in hospital so to get the opportunity of actually meeting some their heroes is a big morale boost."
