BY RUTH SUTER

STEVEN GERRARD’S Rangers team paid a festive visit to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow to hand over a donation of £10,000 from the Rangers Charity Foundation.

The donation has funded the screening of films at the hospital’s ‘MediCinema’ throughout December and has allowed staff to decorate wards with festive embellishments to bring Christmas cheer to the children this year.

Dayna Goudie, from Ayr, welcomed the donations, adding that it has brought her family joy while her six-year-old son Thomas Graham spends his third Christmas at the hospital.

She said: “It will benefit the hospital so much. They provide tickets to see shows every year and it’s amazing to see how much happiness it brings to the children and families.

“Thomas loves seeing the football players, it’s great to see him so happy from their visits.”

Yesterday’s visit followed the recent ‘Decoration Day’ where Academy players, together with club and Foundation staff and ­volunteers, came together to bring a festive feeling to the hospital by hanging decorations.

The Ibrox club’s manager Gerrard said: “The team visit to the hospital is always an emotional but rewarding day and it was great to spend time with the kids, their parents and some of the staff.

“Christmas is an especially ­difficult time for children to be in hospital, but hopefully we’ve helped to spread some joy to the wards today and it was a privilege to present the foundation’s ­­donation.”

Megan Edgar, from Glasgow, whose four-year-old son Oscar is a terminally-ill patient at the hospital, expressed her appreciation to the football club.

She said: “It is really great that the club donates to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow every year.

“This is the fourth year we have met them and Oscar gets so excited every time.

“I am thankful that they continue to support us.”

The Rangers Charity Foundation has been supporting Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity since 2002 and has donated more than £55,000 over the years.

Kirsten Sinclair, Chief Operating Officer at Glasgow’s Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Rangers Charity Foundation and the players for visiting today, and for this generous donation.

“Christmas can be a difficult time for children in hospital, which is why it means so much to us that the players take time out of their busy schedules to visit.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to the club and the foundation for bringing so many smiles to children in hospital this Christmas.”