It was all smiles as players from the ACT Brumbies handed out showbags at the Canberra Hospital on Wednesday.
The initiative was a collaboration between the Canberra Hospital Foundation, Canberra FM (Mix 106.3 Canberra) and the Royal Canberra Show.
Children and their families had their pick from 100 showbags delivered to the Youth and Children Hospital, in Garran, on 19 February.
The annual tradition, which has run for more than a decade, ensures young patients unable to attend the Royal Canberra Show can still experience it.
The families also had the opportunity to take photographs with the Canberra Raiders’ Velda the Valkyrie, the hospital foundation’s Hearty mascots, and Brumbies players Charlie Cale, Blake Schoupp, David Feliuai and Timma Faingaanuku.
They could also pick up a Canberra Raiders hat.
Cale said it was great to be back at the hospital after some of the players visited the children’s ward in December.
“To come back today and be handing out some showbags and hopefully putting some smiles on the children’s faces is great,” he said.
“It’s obviously hard seeing the children in a place (like this), you obviously feel for them. But to be able to, even if we get one smile out of one child, it’s all worth it.”
Canberra Hospital assistant director of nursing Libby Coonan said the event meant “everything to us”.
“It’s actually one of our favourite events because it really gets the children out of their rooms and they’re playing and enjoying it a little bit,” Ms Coonan said.
“Even if it’s just 10 minutes, a bit of normalcy, which is great. Just seeing their smiles, it breaks up the monotony of the hospital stay for these children.”
Royal Canberra Show CEO Adelina La Vita said it was a privilege to give a bit of joy to the children at the hospital.
“It’s amazing to be able to give back and it’s amazing to see their faces when they open the showbags,” she said.
“Just for the mothers and fathers especially, to make sure we’re giving them a little taste of the Canberra Show because we know they can’t come out to us.
“It’s so heartwarming to see the children open the showbags and it’s the memories that will stay with you. It really gives a purpose to do this every year.”
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