Hammers stars spread Christmas joy to sick kids

Mark Noble, Patron and long time supporter of the Richard House Children’s Hospice was back at the hospice today bringing smiles to the faces of youngsters this Christmas.

The Hammers midfielder visited the centre in the Dockland area with Enner Valencia and Joey O’Brien where he spent considerable time with kids and their families having not forgotten to bring some festive goodies.

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Noble wasted no time helping a young girl do some drawings and even picked up a hoover at one point, while Valencia also showed his creative side with a Christmas card for one of the youngsters.

O’Brien was also tested by one of the children’s computer games and seemed to enjoy being challenged by the youngsters.

Just down the road from where Mark once live, the skipper explained: “I always say it, but the staff here, to look after the kids and the families the way they do is phenomenal. It’s just a real eye opener.

“When you’re at places like this football takes a backward step because you realise how lucky you are to be able to go out on the pitch, run around, laugh and enjoy football, when 90 per cent of the kids here can’t even get out of the chairs they’re in. It puts life into perspective.

“It’s only a couple of minutes’ walk from where I used to live and I used to play football in the park over the road. It’s become second nature. I gave all my wedding proceeds to Richard House to help them out and have supported them for the last six, seven years now.”

Seventeen-year-old Murad thanked the Hammers for spreading some Christmas cheer, not least to distract the youngsters from their difficult realities.

“I’m very happy and I’m very thankful, because they’ve given their time just to see us, especially the kids who have life-limiting conditions. It makes them happy and it makes me happy as well. Thanks to Mark Noble and everyone else for making them happy, it’s really nice.

“It means so much, not just for me, but the kids who have been through a lot. We need something to take our minds off hospital appointments and a bit of happiness.”