Newsroom
March 23, 2016
Saskatchewan Rush Players Visit Kids in Hospital
It was quite a rush for sick and injured kids in pediatrics on Monday when some special guests dropped by the Acute Care Pediatrics Ward in Saskatoon for a visit.
Rush forwards Mark Matthews and Robert Church visited pediatrics as part of the kick-off for the week-long jersey auction in support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. The online auction began yesterday on the Saskatchewan Rush’s Facebook page (facebook.com/SaskRush). Wearing the new jerseys, Church and Matthews played an impromptu game of lacrosse in the ward’s playroom, posed for photos, visited with children, families, and went room to room to visit children not well enough to leave their beds. Kids in the ward received Saskatchewan Rush lacrosse sticks and balls, along with iTunes gift cards, playdoh, and coloring books courtesy of TD. Joined by Saskatchewan Rush mascot Bruiser, this was the first visit by both players to the pediatrics department.
Nine-year-old Braden Thompson of Carnduff led the players through a tour of the playroom. Living with cystic fibrosis, the Grade 4 student and his family are regular visitors to the ward. His room, in fact, overlooks the construction site for the new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan. Admitted a week ago, Braden hopes to be discharged on Saturday in time for the Rush game.
“This visit was probably the highlight of his whole time here,” says mom Kelly. “He’s been struggling to get out of his room and the prospect of this visit really perked him up and gave him a goal to reach. It’s so important for the mental health of these kids in hospital to have something to look forward to each and every day.”
In addition to this week’s online auction, Limited Edition Chris “Captain” Corbeil Rush T-shirts will be sold at Saturday’s game by TD volunteer staff members for $20. Donation bins will also be set up at SaskTel Centre along with a Saskatchewan Rush auction table on the main concourse level, featuring autographed and game-worn equipment. The jersey auction wraps up on Sunday, March 27th at 6pm.
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