Football legend Ian Wright made hospice patient Edie weep tears of joy

16 March 2023

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Male with bleu hat and jumper and female in a bed with Arsenal bed cover

Ardent Arsenal fan Edie Huddlestone was overcome with emotion as the football legend sent her a personal video message direct to her Hospice bed.

Edie, 85, was being cared for by Arthur Rank Hospice Charity in Cambridge.

Edie wept with joy as she watched it from her hospice bed – under her Arsenal blanket, lifting it up and down as she shouted “Up the Arsenal, Up the Arsenal!”

Nurses providing end-of-life care for Edie, swung into action when they realised how much Ian Wright meant to her.

They went out of their way to grab the former Arsenal and England player’s attention and asked him to send a video message to Edie. The popular pundit replied with a heartening message and ‘loads of love’.

Edie, from Cambridge, said:

“I am so thrilled to have met Ian at last! All my life I have wanted to meet Ian Wright and now I have. I am so happy. He is such a lovely man, he is my favourite on the telly.”

Jenny Oakes, Ward Manager at the Hospice, said:

“Our lovely patient Edie had been asking numerous times if the staff could arrange for Ian Wright to visit her. They made it their mission to try to contact him via social media, special credit to Registered Nurse Gemma Richardson for getting Ian’s attention!

We are so touched by his support and Edie’s emotional reaction says it all.

We provide care which helps make every moment count for patients and their loved ones. It’s safe to say Edie and my team of wonderful staff will not forget this moment! You never know we may get a visit from Ian if we play our cards right?!”

Staff at the Hospice would like to say a big thank you to Ian Wright for taking the time to surprise Edie and are hoping it’s becoming a habit, as last year ex-footballer and Senior Football Strategist, Stan Collymore made a surprise visit to a Neil Wilson who was staying on the Inpatient Unit at the time. You can read more here: arhc.org.uk/supporting-you/personal-stories/detail/ex-footballer-surprises-hospice-patient-for-his-50th-birthday/