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Rangers FC Academy players and Foundation and Club staff volunteered to decorate the Royal Hospital For Children for the festive season as part of the Foundation’s partnership with Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

The youth players, staff and volunteers helped to bring some festive cheer to the wards for patients, families and staff by hanging decorations throughout the hospital.

The Foundation has again pledged to raise £10,000 for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity this season, with part of those funds paying for Christmas decorations and the remainder going towards the purchase of a specialist piece of sleep monitoring equipment.

In-patient polysomnography (PSG) sleep studies are an essential diagnostic tool to monitor and diagnose sleep disordered breathing in children, from new borns through to adolescents. Sleep disordered breathing can affect many children with varying diagnoses including premature babies and children with Down’s Syndrome, epilepsy and congenital heart disease.

To find the origin of the sleep disordered breathing, a PSG sleep study is performed which requires this specialist equipment. Last year, 260 in-patient PSGs were performed and the demand is increasing.  The Royal Hospital For Children is one of just two hospitals in Scotland that offer this service.

Kirsten Watson, Chief Executive Officer at Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, commented:

“It’s always a delight to welcome the Rangers Charity Foundation and Rangers Academy players back to the hospital, especially at Christmas. Their help in decorating the wards not only brightens up the space but also lifts the spirits of children, families, and staff during what can be a challenging time of year.

We are so grateful for their continued support, which makes such a difference to our young patients and their loved ones.”

The Foundation has enjoyed a special relationship with Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity for more than 20 years.

The partnership has seen the Foundation donate cash, toys and equipment, supporting Christmas activities and organising special visits and treats for the children.

Foundation Charity Executive, Rachael Cosgrove said: “I’d like to say a big thanks to the Rangers Academy youth players, Foundation and Club staff and volunteers for making the time to come along and decorate the wards. I always really enjoy decoration days and we hope this will spread some Christmas cheer to the children and hospital staff.

“We have such a special and longstanding relationship with Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity and are proud once again to give our support to their vital work.”