Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy took on the role of Santa Clause in a virtual visit to Crumlin Children’s Hospital on Wednesday.
Among the children whom he met by video link were 11 year old Anna Mae Doyle from Rathdrum.
Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin Ambassador Ryan Tubridy brought smiles to even the smallest faces this week when he paid a virtual Christmas visit to patients in CHI at Crumlin.
The Late Late Show host takes time out of his busy schedule each and every year to visit CHI at Crumlin and bring festive spirit and joy to patients, families and staff in the hospital. Unfortunately this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, an in-person visit was not possible, so a very special virtual visit was arranged.
Ryan was present via video link and made his visits virtually to St. Joseph’s and St. John’s wards, where he spoke to patients from all over Ireland.
The Late Late Show host is ambassador of Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin, which is the new name CMRF Crumlin. With the help of supporters across Ireland and beyond, Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin raises vital funds for Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, formerly known as Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin.
Director of Nursing Tracey Wall said, “It is wonderful to see all the children’s faces light up when they see Ryan,” she said. “Being in hospital is tough for children at any time of year, but during Christmas it can be especially unfair. That’s why during COVID-19 we wanted to continue our traditions of our visits from our Ambassadors but in a safe way virtually. We are hugely grateful to Mr Tubridy for giving his time, and to our many supporters who make donations and raise funds so that sick children can have smiles all year round.”
Every year, around 150,000 children walk through the doors of the children’s hospital and some of them got to meet with Ryan who loved telling stories and making jokes with them.
Ryan said, “It’s always humbling to walk through the corridors of CHI at Crumlin and this year it was wonderful that, even during COVID with restrictions in visiting, I was able to virtually meet the patients. Meeting children and their families who have a lot going on in their world but always handling the situation with dignity and determination.”
Denise Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of the Children’s Health Foundation said, “Wednesday’s virtual visit to CHI at Crumlin by our wonderful ambassador Ryan Tubridy was such a huge treat for children and their families. Ryan has long been a fantastic friend to the hospital and Foundation and we are honoured to have him as an ambassador.”
She added, “We couldn’t possibly let his visit pass without saying a huge thank you for his on-going support of sick children in CHI at Crumlin and, most recently, at this year’s Late Late Toy Show – where the new Toy Show Appeal raised vital funds for a range of charities, including Children’s Health Foundation. These funds will go where they are needed most to help sick children and their families in CHI at Crumlin and Temple Street. On behalf of all of us in Children’s Health Foundation, we would like to send Ryan and his family the very best wishes for the season and for a bright new year.”
Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin is the new name for CMRF Crumlin, and is part of the Children’s Health Foundation family. CMRF Crumlin and Temple Street Foundation officially came together at the beginning of January 2019 to become a single, unified family working to support sick children and their families in CHI. To support sick children in CHI at Crumlin this Christmas visit www.cmrf.org/donate.
(Pictures.Mark Stedman)
