Any visit or stay at the hospital is tough, but for a few families, hopefully the Calgary Flames made it a little easier.
As part of the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) Alberta Comfort Cart, four members of the Calgary Flames delivered snacks and small gifts to families at the Peter Lougheed Centre.
Flames’ Captain Mikael Backlund said the visit meant a lot, especially around the holidays.
“It’s always hard to see kids going through different things, but being here at the hospital is never fun for family, so we’re out to be here to support them and maybe give them a little bit of a smile,” the longtime Flames forward said.
Emily Smith, whose son is in care at the Peter Lougheed Centre, said the cart was lovely, and the Flames players were a bonus.
“For us, we’ve just been in a whirlwind the last little bit and even getting something as nice as a little blanket from them, while we kind of just had to rush to get here from an emergency at home has been really nice,” she said.
Admittedly not a hockey fan, Smith said her family members were just as excited for the visit as she was and got a special virtual Flames surprise.
“For their nephew, he loves hockey, so we did a video for him. They said he’d be super excited,” Backlund said.
Manning the cart with fellow Flames MacKenzie Weegar, Devin Cooley and Johnny Beecher, Backlund said he loves returning the support the Flames see on a nightly basis.
“We are very privileged to play in the NHL and to live our dreams, so we want to do what we can to give back,” he said.
“The whole organization and Calgary have done such a tremendous job since day one I came to Calgary.”
Though the Friday afternoon visit was a first for the four Flames, both the Calgary Flames and Wranglers have been longtime supporters of RMH Alberta, according to an AHS-issued press release, often appearing at the Ronald McDonald House to spend time with families.
“The Comfort Cart is more than just snacks and gifts, it’s a symbol of care and connection for families during some of their most challenging moments. Seeing the Calgary Flames players join us today brought so much joy and excitement to the hospital. It’s a wonderful reminder of the power of community and the difference we can make together,” said Natasha Tiemstra, COO of RMH Alberta, in the release.
Normally run by volunteers at the Foothills Medical Centre, Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge and the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, Backlund said the cart is a wonderful way to show support during tough times.
“It’s great. I didn’t know about it and I think it’s a great thing to do, give a little something to the families, if it’s a little toy to the kid, or just offer treats to parents, I think it’s a great thing,” he said.
