Publish date: 22 December 2025
Our hospital was filled with festive spirit this week as Portsmouth Football Club players Zak Swanson and Callum Lang paid a special Christmas visit to patients and staff.
The pair arrived with Christmas gifts, which will be shared with children on the paediatric wards to help bring smiles to young patients and their families during the festive period. The presents were personally selected by Zak and Callum after donations from the Pompey first-team squad, making the gesture all the more meaningful and personal. During their visit, Zak and Callum were able to meet the Hassan family: Luna Hassan, Jamal Hassan, and Gulan Qadir, and personally hand over a special toy, making the moment even more memorable.
Adding to the festive cheer, Zak and Callum also brought signed Portsmouth FC shirts for adult patients across the hospital who they were unable to meet on the day, including a devoted Pompey season ticket holder, ensuring that the Christmas surprise reached patients of all ages.
Callum Lang said: "It's never nice for children and their families to have to stay in hospital, but that's especially true at this time of year. All the lads wanted to help out and spread a bit of Christmas cheer, so hopefully we've been able to put a few smiles on faces."
Kate Sandys, Head of Charity said: "It was a great pleasure to welcome Zak Swanson and Callum Lang to Queen Alexandra Hospital last week. They had personally picked out toys and gifts for children staying with us over Christmas, funded thanks to kind donations made by the squad. We'd like to thank the club and the players for their support and wish them well with their matches over the busy festive period. PUP!"
We would like to say a huge thank you to Portsmouth Football Club, Zak Swanson and Callum Lang for their generosity, kindness, and for helping to make Christmas a little brighter for patients at QA Hospital.
