Thanks to the wonderful generosity of the Celtic support this Christmas, Celtic FC Foundation are delighted to confirm that a donation of £10,000 has been made to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

And today (Thursday), some of the first-team squad stopped by the Hospital to spread some festive cheer and deliver Christmas gifts to the children.

Due to the COVID pandemic, the team had been forced to settle for virtual visits in 2020 and 2021, so the Bhoys were delighted to be back in person today, putting smiles on the faces of some very special children.

Though ordinarily a time of joy, the festive period can instead be a time of heartbreak and distress for many of the children and families supported by the Hospital. The ongoing cost of living crisis has further added to the pressures for many families who are already facing financial hardship.

Through the donation received via this year’s Christmas Appeal, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity will be able to provide special Christmas presents to hundreds of children in their care, who are affected by ongoing health issues.

Sadly, a number of these children may have otherwise gone without a gift on Christmas Day, due to the financial restraints that many of their families are currently facing.

Celtic captain Callum McGregor said: “As a team, myself and the rest of the players are delighted to make this special Christmas visit.

"Our visits for the last couple of years have been on zoom due to the pandemic, so it is great for us to have the opportunity to visit the children in person.

'We realise it can be a very difficult time for children and their families who are in hospital, at this time of year. We hope that in some way our visit can put a smile on their faces and lift their spirits.'

“It is important we also thank the staff at the hospital for all they do. They make such a positive difference to the children and they deserve huge praise for the fantastic work they do throughout the year. We wish all the children at the hospital and the staff, a very Merry Christmas.”

Kirsten Watson, CEO of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “It was a thrill to welcome the Celtic players back into the Hospital today. The Club were fantastic during the pandemic with virtual visits, but there’s nothing like the excitement that children feel when they meet their heroes in person.

“The generous donation from Celtic FC Foundation will help children and families going through some of the most difficult times of their lives, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone at the Club and the Foundation for their support.”

Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity is just one of a number of charities which will receive donations through this year’s Appeal and you can read further details about the other organisations that will benefit from your support, via our Christmas Appeal webpage HERE.

Through our Appeal, we want to give hundreds of families in our communities the Christmas they deserve, making sure there’s food on the table and gifts under the tree.

We also aim to help pensioners, women and children in refuge, the homeless community and refugees – as well as a whole host of others facing poverty and hardship.

The generosity and compassion of the Celtic support is truly unsurpassed and we simply cannot make a difference to the lives of so many without you.

Together, we can Share the Magic this Christmas.

To get behind this year’s Christmas Appeal, you can:

Donate online HERE
Donate via PayPal HERE
Donate via Facebook HERE
Donate by text – text ‘CELTIC’ followed by ‘£1’, ‘£5’ or ‘£10’ to 70085*
Donate in Cash – there are collection boxes located in all Celtic Stores
Donate by Cheque – payable to ‘Celtic FC Foundation’ and sent to Celtic FC Foundation, Celtic Park, Glasgow G40 3RE
Provide support through your Christmas shopping in Celtic stores or online by purchasing an item from ‘Walfrid’s Wishlist’ HERE
Provide support through your Christmas shopping via Give as you Live and AmazonSmile HERE
Enter our Appeal Prize Draw HERE
Purchase our brand new T-shirt HERE

Thank you for your magnificent support.

*Texts will cost the donation amount, plus one standard rate message

£10k donated to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity through Christmas Appeal