Pizza, Kids and Bulls...it must be League season

Four years ago a casual conversation between Phil Prescott (Canterbury Bulls Coach) and Cynthia Annear (Child Cancer Foundation Family Support Coordinator) sparked a special relationship between a group of energetic young League players and the brave children at the CHOC unit (Child Haematology Oncology Centre) in Christchurch.

For the last four years members of the Canterbury Bulls have visited CHOC on a regular basis during League season to spend a few hours hanging out with the kids over pizza. They also arrive bearing gifts of team hats and other League paraphernalia.

While some kids are able to join the team for pizza, others are too sick to leave their beds so the Bulls make a special trip to see them in their rooms.

During their recent visit to CHOC the Bulls caught up with Leigh Foster-18yrs, Alex Nicol-13yrs and Kathleen McDonald-8yrs. Alex Nicol had not been out of protective isolation for 4 weeks when they arrived so it would be fair to say these visitors made both his day and his month! Alex’s mum Michelle says having the Canterbury Bulls in was absolutely fantastic. “ Alex had a big beaming grin on his face the whole time the team was there, it was great having the guys there to talk to him and they have really given him something to look forward to.” (The Bulls have asked Alex to give them a call when he is feeling better and they will arrange for him and his brother to come through the changing rooms during one of their games).

For Kathleen McDonald’s mum Yvonne, the Bulls provided a welcome distraction from her daughter’s illness. Kathleen is currently battling a tumour in her pelvis and was feeling very unwell when the Bulls arrived. However she really cheered up in their company and loves the gorgeous beanie-hat they gave her. “I think they (the Bulls) are just so wonderful for taking the time out to visit,” said Yvonne.

Bulls’ coach Phil Prescott says the players get as much out of their visits, if not more, than the kids do. “We have a team of young blokes ranging in age from 17yrs to 30yrs, sometimes they forget how fortunate they are or take their talents for granted. It is healthy for them to see how tough some of these kids have it and how hard they have to fight to have a good life. Meeting these plucky kids gives the players some perspective and helps to develop their individual characters. In some cases the experience has really affected particular members of the team in a positive way. The guys attend the pizza night at CHOC on a voluntary basis. They always support it well and look forward to going. Some have young families themselves so they can really relate.”