Martin House Children's Hospice is a local charity that provides hospice care for children and young people across Yorkshire, contributing family-led care to those with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses.
Recently, first-team duo Ilia Gruev and Jaka Bijol arrived at the hospice in Wetherby to surprise the children and staff and to learn more about the important care the hospice is providing and the current project they are undertaking to improve the facilities and increase the number of families they can support.
Rosie Mellor Silvester, Head of Mass Relationships at Martin House Children's Hospice, said: “It was absolutely fantastic having the Leeds United players here today to visit.
“There were so many excited children waiting, and they’ve made some absolute core memories for those families and those children that I’m sure they will take away with them when they go home from the hospice.”
Speaking to a member of staff at the hospice, Ilia discovered that there are about 400 families that use the facilities, separating into age groups of babies all the way to 25-year-olds.
Martin House provides these facilities and respite care for children with life-limiting illnesses but they also support families with end-of-life care and care after death, along with education, research and planning.
“It was a nice experience,” said Leeds defender Bijol. “It was nice to see all the workers and all the kids, it’s a nice environment to be in – there’s a lot of positivity, a lot of energy given, which was nice to see and to help make some memories.”
Gruev then added: “To be an ambassador for these kinds of things is really important, Leeds is such a big club and has the strength, and I think we’re much more aware when players at this level do things like this.”
“Big respect and honour to the families and people who work here, who make it a normal life for these kids.
“We try to be here and if we can make one kid smile more, we’ve already won.”
Martin House are running their ‘Raise the Roof’ campaign on the 28th of October, spanning over 36 hours, and are aiming to raise £360,000 to support the redevelopment of the hospice named THE BUILD.
Over these 36 hours, all donations will be matched to double the impact, and any contributions will make a huge difference to the children and families the charity support.
Sadly, not long after the club's visit to Martin House Children's Hospice, one of the families Ilia and Jaka spent time with lost their 17-year-old son, Sam (pictured above). Sam was wearing his Leeds United kit for the visit, and he always loved football. He loved playing when he was younger, and when he could no longer play, he got so much joy from watching his younger brother.
The facilities at Martin House ensured Sam and his family could spend precious time together, including the family dog, Monty, along with a stream of loved ones. The family will always be immeasurably grateful to Martin House, with how they have supported them through their expert care and the warmth and compassion of everyone who works and volunteers there.
We send our deepest sympathies to all of the youngsters family and friends at this heartbreaking time, Sam will always be a part of the Leeds United family.
