Coventry City Players Bring Joy to Zoe’s Place as Ccfc Visit Hospices
A hospice room at Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice in Coventry filled with smiles and laughter when players from Coventry City FC arrived on 3 March ET to spend time with babies, children and families. The visit by club players lifted spirits and helped draw attention to the care provided at Zoe’s Place, and the moment echoed a separate visit to Coventry Myton Hospice by named members of the playing squad.
Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice visit on 3 March ET
On 3 March ET, players from Coventry City FC toured Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice, meeting families, speaking with staff and joining in a kick-around with some of the children. Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice supports babies and young children aged 0-5 with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and its Coventry hospice has provided respite, palliative and end-of-life care since opening in 2011.
Staff at Zoe’s Place explained how community support and awareness from local organisations help ensure the hospice can continue providing its services free of charge. During the afternoon at Zoe’s Place, the hospice was described as being filled with smiles, laughter and treasured moments as players and families spent time together.
Ccfc players Ben Wilson, Josh Eccles, Jack Rudoni and Brandon Thomas-Asante at Myton Hospice
A separate visit to Coventry Myton Hospice saw Ben Wilson, Josh Eccles, Jack Rudoni and Brandon Thomas-Asante spend an afternoon with patients, families, staff and volunteers. At Myton Hospice the quartet swapped stories with lifelong Sky Blues fans, reminisced about matchday memories and posed for photos with those they met.
Myton patient David said: “I’ve been a fan for 75 years so this was such a treat. ” Michael, whose brother Tim is at the hospice, said: “I’ve been a CCFC fan for 61 years and in all that time I’ve never missed a home game, but I’ve never had the chance to meet the players. ” Jeanette, the niece of hospice patient Dot, said Dot “even gave them all a thumbs up. “
Players reflected on what the visits meant to them. Jack Rudoni said, “I’m glad we could come and see everyone today. ” Brandon Thomas-Asante said coming to the hospice offered an opportunity “to see into the lives of people who support us. ” Josh Eccles said it was important to him as a Coventry-born player to “do his bit for the community, ” and Ben Wilson said, “To be able to give people joy and put smiles on people’s faces is amazing. ” The visits at Myton lifted spirits among patients, families and staff.
Leigh Thomson and Zoe’s Place staff on community support
A spokesperson for Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice described the players’ time with children, families and staff as bringing “a real lift to the hospice” and said the visit helped raise awareness of the care and support provided every day. Leigh Thomson, Supporter Services Officer, said Coventry City are pleased to continue their long-standing support of Zoe’s Place and called the visit “very important and heartwarming. ”
Staff at both Zoe’s Place and Myton Hospice emphasised that backing from local organisations, sports clubs and individuals is essential so families can access compassionate care when they need it most. For Zoe’s Place, that community support underpins the hospice’s ability to offer specialist services free of charge.
Back in the hospice room where the afternoon began, babies and families at Zoe’s Place left with new memories from the players’ visit on 3 March ET. Coventry City have said they will continue their long-standing support, a commitment that staff say helps Zoe’s Place and Myton Hospice keep providing care and respite to local families.
