St George Illawarra players took time out from their preparation for the Charity Shield by visiting patients in the children’s ward at St George Hospital last week.
Representative forward Tyson Frizell was joined by Renown United junior Jacob Host and young centre Taane Milne to put smiles on the faces of young fans, spending time with the children and their families.
The club use the Charity Shield match, now in its 35th year, to raise money for St George Hospital at Kogarah as well as Wollongong Public Hospital and the St George Foundation.
Host, a local junior and boyhood Dragons fan, said he was thrilled to be part of the afternoon.
“It’s fantastic to get out and see the kids at the hospital. We do our part on the field but we’ve also got to do our part in the community and to give back to the community, come and see these kids and put a smile on their face. It makes my day and I’m very happy to do it,” he said.
“It always made my day when Dragons players would come around at clinics [when I was a kid] and it’s a privilege for me to do that these days and it’s something I don’t take lightly or take for granted either.”
Frizell said it was a worthwhile experience.
“You actually put a smile on some people’s faces, especially the young kids. I don’t think you could ever do enough of it,” he said.