Football Team’s Christmas Visit Uplifts Hospice Patients

A local football team’s special Christmas visit has been credited with “boosting the mood” at a hospice. St Helena Hospice, located in Colchester, Essex, was established in 1985 and offers end-of-life care to individuals and their families within the county. Personnel from Colchester United, including head coach Danny Cowley and captain Tom Flanagan, contributed two sensory lights intended for patients with limited mobility. Senior ward sister Kirsty Smith commented, “It was really good and it was great feeling to see them chatting and it boosted the mood on the unit.” Cowley stated, “It is such a positive place, so many people with smiles on their faces – so happy to see us.” He added, “It is a pleasure and a privilege for us to be here and we are so appreciative to just be invited first and foremost, and to just spend some time with the patients and their families.” Cowley also noted the insular nature of professional football, saying, “In football you can be in a bubble, and sometimes you don’t actually know what’s happening in the outside world because you are so focused on trying to win on a Saturday.” He explained that the purpose of the visit was community outreach. Miss Smith described “it was heartwarming to see the engagement” as the players autographed merchandise and recounted game-related stories. She further mentioned that the sensory light projectors, designed to mimic stars and clouds, would benefit patients experiencing neurological issues. “It is good for patients who can’t go outside and it is really good to create a calming environment,” she explained. Flanagan remarked, “I’ve been to a couple of hospices through football at Christmas and this set-up is so nice, it has such a homely feel about it for families who come in a pretty dark period and everyone is so upbeat.” He recounted meeting “a young girl who is an aspiring goalie.” He noted that the girl’s father had died while under the hospice’s care, but she was now receiving aftercare from the team. Flanagan concluded, “It’s been a good day and really eye-opening.” He added, “It’s almost like everyone is pleased to be here – which is a strange thing to say but I think that is really important.” He further stated, “We spoke to a few of the patients and everything that they said was kind of based on the staff – that they are making a tough period of an individual’s life so great.”