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The Rangers First Team Squad and Manager Mark Warburton paid a festive visit to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow and handed over a donation of £10,000 from the Rangers Charity Foundation to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

The donation, which the players contributed personally to, is funding Christmas decorations and activities for the wards and a specialist Laser Pen – an important piece of equipment to help young cancer patients.  

The laser pen treats Oral Mucositis, a debilitating and painful side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and will help to make children undergoing cancer treatment much more comfortable.

The squad chatted with children, parents and staff, signed autographs and handed out goodie bags on the wards as part of the visit.

The Hospital is already looking very festive after players from Rangers Under 17 and Under 20 squads, along with Foundation and Club staff and volunteers, helped to decorate the wards recently.

Rangers Manager Mark Warburton commented: “We’re delighted to come along today and meet some of the kids and their parents, as well as members of staff who are doing such a great job.

“It’s tough for kids to be in hospital at this time of year, so if we can lift their spirits in any way, we’re happy to help.  The donation from the Foundation will also make a huge difference and allow Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity to make sure there’s plenty of fun and activities on the wards. 

“The Hospital is looking very festive – the young players clearly did a great job of putting up the Christmas decorations – and I’m delighted at the first team’s desire to contribute personally to today’s donation and also to some of the Foundation’s other Christmas initiatives.

“We’re thinking of all the children and their families who are in hospital at this time of year and on behalf of everyone at Rangers Football Club and the Rangers Charity Foundation would like to wish them a Merry Christmas.”

Connal Cochrane, Director of the Rangers Charity Foundation said: “We hope today’s donation will really help to add those special extras to Christmas time at the Hospital which can make all the difference to the children who have to be there.

“We’re also pleased to be able to purchase the Laser Pen to treat Oral Mucositis, which can really cause severe pain in the children’s mouths and increase their risk of infection.

“I’d like to thank our supporters, whose commitment and generosity has made this donation possible, and the First Team Squad for their personal donation and for taking the time to come along to the Hospital today.”

Kirsten Sinclair, Director of Fundraising at Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Rangers Football Club and the Rangers Charity Foundation for their ongoing support and commitment throughout 2016.  

“The annual team visit is always a highlight of the year, and it really does help to bring some joy, laughter and Christmas spirit to our young patients and their families.  Being in hospital over the Christmas period can be difficult, and visits like this really help to make time in hospital a bit easier.

“This incredible donation will go a long way to supporting the babies, children and young people who receive treatment and care at Scotland’s largest children’s hospital, and for this we are truly thankful.  

“From decorations and play apparatus, to specialised medical equipment and family support services, the donation kindly given by the Rangers Charity Foundation and its supporters will have a real and lasting impact on our young patients.”

The visit was part of the Club and Foundation’s Christmas activities in the community which will see a host of local organisations benefit from donations.