Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey and kicker Cameron Dicker took a trip up to Westwood to pay a visit to some special visitors last week.
The pair of teammates spent the day at the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, surprising patients and staff as part of the continued partnership between UCLA Health and the Chargers.
Both McConkey and Dicker, sporting their Chargers jerseys, went around through different areas of the hospital, visiting children and interacting with them and their families.
As Director of Chase Child Life at UCLA Health/Mattel Children's Hospital Kelli Carroll said, it was a visit that brightens the day and beyond for the patients at the hospital.
"When you're a kiddo in the hospital, especially here in specialized care that we give at UCLA, you can be here for a long time and the outside world seems like it's far away," Carroll said. "When somebody like Ladd and Cameron come in, it changes the whole perspective on the day and often times for kids it changes the whole perspective on the next week."
She later added: "It brings an energy to the hospital that people for the rest of the night will be buzzing in a good energy."
The pair went from room to room, signing mini footballs and towels for the children along the way.
It was something that was a cool experience not only for the people at the hospital but also the players themselves.
"It was amazing," McConkey said. "Just to walk into the room and see their faces light up and spend a little bit of time with them is an amazing feeling. To be able to just give back, there's truly no better feeling."
Dicker added: "It was awesome. It's always fun to come to these things and see the joy and energy that these kids have in day-to-day life fighting through whatever struggles it may be. It's just cool to see people light up when you walk into the room."
Carroll said visits like this go a long way for the patients at the hospital, as it sticks with them not only for the day, but much beyond that.
"These kind of visits are the things that our kids will remember more than anything else that happens," Carroll said. "They can have procedures, surgeries and stuff happen but they'll leave the hospital and say, 'The Chargers came to visit me while I was here.'
"That's what we want them to remember because they leave here remembering the great experiences," Carroll added.
The players also showed some appreciation for the staff at the hospital along the way too, as it was 'National Nurses Week' during the week of their visit.
They stopped to take pictures with them, as well as extending their thanks for the work they do.
"It means a lot to our kids but also means a lot to our staff, cause they see a lot of sad stuff. It's hard to work in the hospital nowadays. Even for the staff it's really great," Carroll said.
McConkey added: "Their job is one of the most important in the world, and we appreciate all of them. Thank you for all you all do."
It was another chance for members of the Chargers to support the community, something they value greatly.
"It's very important… To be able to come and hang out with them for a little bit is huge," McConkey said. "I love to see a smile on people's face, you see me walk around with a smile. As happy as we make them, they make us much more happy."
Dicker added: "I think giving back, giving your time most importantly, is the biggest thing you can do. Time is the most valuable thing so being able to give back your time and share the love and try to light up every room you walk in to. It's fun to be able to walk into places, like here, and have light from other people seep in our lives. It was pretty cool."
