The athletes share a morning with the patients on the pediatric ward

Sporting CP footballers Pedro Gonçalves, Daniel Bragança, Tiago Ferreira and Alícia Correia, along with handball player Salvador Salvador, visited the pediatric ward of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology (IPO) in Lisbon, in a social responsibility action promoted by the Sporting Foundation and the IPO itself.

The players brought the young patients hugs, smiles and Sporting Clube de Portugal souvenirs, to encourage them in their fight with illness.

“When we told them that Sporting CP players would be coming here, they were very happy - especially those who are fans of the team", said Cátia Tomás, kindergarten teacher at IPO Lisbon.

"These initiatives always have a very positive effect on the children, healthcare professionals and also caregivers. It's a break from their routine and, often, it's a dream come true, meeting someone they're only used to seeing on television and who is their idol. So being able to be with them is something that always brings a lot of excitement and pleasure”.

“This time, the three points clearly went to the pediatric ward at IPO Lisbon".

Sporting CP wants to get ever closer to the community, at a time in which more and more people need help from others.

“There is the game on the pitch and there is the 'match' outside of it, and we are here to bring those two worlds together. Above all, we want to make the strength of Sporting CP felt within the community”, says Inês Sêco, executive coordinator of the Sporting Foundation.

“Us coming here gives these children great strength. Something that is so little to us means a lot to them. In a way, it helps them to face this situation in a different way”.

For this reason, Sporting CP turned up with five players, and also with Jubas, the club mascot.

“Seeing so many children going through this is difficult. We have to give them some strength, give them confidence in the process and tell them that, like us, it is something that you take day-to-day. You never know what tomorrow will bring, but clearly what we have to do is give them strength", said Pedro Gonçalves.

“This could just be an everyday thing for us, but for them it is a special day because they feel the joy of being able to be with their idols".

“It's important to come here and, from today onwards, you can be sure, they are my idols, because of the strength they have and the way they face life", said the winger.

One of those present, Julinho, welcomed the delegation wearing the Sporting CP shirt, and received the jacket Gonçalves had worn after being handed a shirt signed by the first team.

Women's team player Alícia Correia also spoke after this visit to IPO Lisbon.

“It was a different day not only for them, but also for us. Seeing their joy when they saw us with Jubas was truly priceless and being able to make their journey a little easier makes me very happy”