“For those few minutes while Alan was speaking to the Leicester Tigers players, he was my husband who loves sport again, not a patient,” said Sue Sutherington, whose husband Alan is a patient at LOROS.
The Leicester Tigers squad were welcomed with open arms by the Groby Road Hospice as the team took a break from their busy season to visit terminally ill patients and their families.
Around 15 players, including Freddie Burns, Tom Croft, Graham Kitchener and Manu Tuilagi, spent time in the day therapy unit, as well as on the ward, signing autographs and having photos with people.
Sue, of Markfield added: “Alan is Leicester through and through and he has always been a Tigers fan, so to see him with the players was quite emotional.
“We weren’t expecting them to visit all the patients but they did, it was refreshing, it gave us a much needed sense of normality again.”
Carol Anderton, 62, of Burbage, who is also a patient on the ward, said: “My word, they were all absolutely lovely.
“For them to give up their time to visit the Hospice and spent time with us is really quite something.”
Another patient Geoffrey Essex, 91, of Coalville, added: “It was really nice, they are all such good players.
“My daughter and son-in-law are huge Tigers fans, so they were extremely jealous.”
Their visit was organised by Jodie Johnson, who is currently battling cancer and has recently been discharged from the ward at LOROS.
34-year-old Jodie went to school with former Leicester Tigers and England player Brett Deacon, who is now the Academy Head Coach for the club.
Speaking about the visit, Brett said: “We were happy to be able to offer some of our time to call in and visit the guys at LOROS, including all the staff who do such a great job there.
“We consider ourselves very lucky to be in a professional sporting environment at a successful club like the Tigers, playing the sport we love, but we always appreciate how tough it can be for others. It can be especially tough for anyone with seriously ill family and friends.”
The club also donated a Tigers shirt signed by the team, which will be auctioned off by the Hospice at a later date.
Find out how you can support LOROS by visiting loros.co.uk/support-us
Photographs courtesy of: Ian Randall Photography
