BARNTON Football Club will be visiting children in hospital over the festive season to deliver club teddy bears.

The planned visit is part of the support the club is giving to ward 77 at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The club has decided to raise money for the hospital as staff on the ward are caring for Evie Meadowcroft, the daughter of Barnton FC defender Dan Meadowcroft.

“We are delighted to confirm that we will be raising money for ward 77 of the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital,” said Barnton FC manager Steve Lloyd.

“Evie has a condition known as Extreme Short Bowel Syndrome, which needs the specialist care of the staff at the hospital.

“As a club we aim to raise money for ongoing project requirements that maintain the ward with much-needed equipment and specialist resource support.

“The club will also be delivering Barnton FC teddy bears to the sick children who will be on the ward during the festive period.

“We have all been deeply touched by the problems Dan’s little daughter has to live with, and want to show our support in whichever we can by raising funds for much-needed equipment.

“The bears will enable us all to put a smile on the faces of the little children who are suffering with their health over Christmas.

“Even if that is only for a short time it will make it all worthwhile."

The club has launched a just giving page where people can donate: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/barnton-fcward77

The club has set itself a target of raising £1,000 for the ward, and has so far raised £230.

Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital receives over 240,000 patient visits every year.

The support the hospital provides helps families to stay together and support one another during what can be a very difficult time for them.

The hospital’s charity supports projects that provide state-of-the-art and specialised equipment to help improve the diagnosis and treatment of children.

It also supports research that can help to better understand children’s illnesses and provide the treatments of the future, and support projects that help to create a more child-friendly environment.