Rookie spread cheer at Children's Hospital

 

By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

Rookies visit Children's Hospital Photos

 

The Steelers brought smiles to the faces of kids who need it the most when the team’s rookie class made a visit to Children’s Hospital this week.

 

All nine of the team’s rookies visited the hospital to take part in their “Sun ‘n Fun” event. While the weather didn’t cooperate with rain falling outside, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm as there was still plenty of sunshine spread around the hospital by the players.

 

“It was a good time,” said center Darnell Stapleton. “I know a lot of young kids look up to professional athletes. It was good to be able to go out and give back to the kids.

“I had a good time. I did a little finger painting. I enjoyed myself.”

 

The group split into two, with some of them staying in the playroom at the hospital, doing things such as making felt Terrible Towels, finger painting and making d-fense signs out of popsicle sticks.

 

Tight end Matt Spaeth was among the group that visited the rooms, seeing kids who weren’t able to make it out of bed and go to the play room. It was a moving experience for him.

 

“It keeps you grounded. It’s a big time reality check,” said Spaeth. “I think everybody should do it. You don’t have to be a professional athlete to do it. It puts everything in perspective.

 

“It was great to do something like that. You see the joy it brings them and it brings you that joy tenfold. It was very special to be able to give back like that.”

 

The visit was arranged as a part of the Steelers Rookie Club, which aims to get the players involved in the Pittsburgh community. It was the first project the group did, and Stapleton thinks it showed a different side of the players while at the same time hoping it did some good.

 

“It shows we have a heart,” said Stapleton. “A lot of people think of us as big, nasty players, but we have hearts to.

 

“It’s always good to give back to kids. You never know what kind of effect it might have on them. It might have them come along faster in their recovery.”