Darent Valley hospital in Dartford says the festive season is one of the busiest times of the year for its Children's ward.
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00:00A showcase with some players.
00:02Players, these are Dartford.
00:05Yeah!
00:07We're not Liverpool.
00:11From footballers to Santa's helpers,
00:14these players from Dartford Football Club
00:16have traded their boot bags for bags of toys this Christmas
00:19as they hand out gifts and chocolates
00:21to the children here at Darrent Valley's Willow Ward.
00:24This is Ariana and she was born at 33 weeks
00:27so because her body wasn't fully developed when she was born
00:32she doesn't cope very well with certain coughs and colds and everything
00:37so she's very vulnerable to things.
00:39Being back here is a very scary thing
00:42but honestly, this is wonderful.
00:46It's really made her day.
00:48You see how excited that she's been
00:50and as mum, thank you.
00:52A bit emotional but we all know that it's for a good cause
00:56and for something that's going to just put a little smile
00:59and cheer people up.
01:01It's nice to see some of them might not even go home
01:04so to give them something to do over Christmas
01:07and keep them occupied whilst they're poorly is quite nice.
01:10Some of the children are just too poorly for us to take our cameras in
01:13but from what I've seen it's clear that every donation,
01:15every toy handed out has led to a smile on the faces of the families
01:19who are having to spend their Christmas here.
01:22Much like for the patients, those in charge here at the hospital
01:25say this time of year can be very difficult
01:27with vast numbers of patients being admitted.
01:30Over the past few years, Christmas has been so busy on the ward.
01:33We get so many children coming in and out.
01:35If it weren't for the likes of Dartford Football Club
01:38that have supported us over the years,
01:40the kids wouldn't hardly get any presents.
01:42It's hard for a child being in hospital any time of the year
01:46but especially Christmas,
01:48so we do try and make it a bit more fun and uplifting for them.
01:53As well as toys, the Dartford Supporters Group
01:55gave a cash donation of £250 to Down Valley's premature baby unit
02:00after one of its members, Gary, spent two weeks there with his wife
02:03when their twins were born early.
02:05They were seven weeks early so we had obviously a lot going on with that
02:10and we spent two and a half weeks in the special care baby unit
02:14so it's played a very important part in their lives with that.
02:17It was difficult because you don't know how things are going to go at that point.
02:22You don't know.
02:23We were assured that everything was going to be fine,
02:25it just took a bit of time,
02:26but they are both absolutely fine
02:28and they've got a chance at the world now.
02:30Six months on and Audrey and Spencer are well and healthy
02:33in time for their first Christmases at home.
02:36But whilst the children admitted here may be forced to spend their Christmas
02:39surrounded by the walls of a hospital,
02:41at least it's a festive season that can now be kicked off with a smile.
02:45Bartholomew Hall for KMTV in Dartford.