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Homecoming celebration at UK Children's Hospital

Posted at 11:38 AM, Oct 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-08 18:36:44-04

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — It is homecoming week for the University of Kentucky football team and players have kicked it off with a trip to Kentucky Children's Hospital.

Players, cheerleaders and, of course, Coach Mark Stoops met with kids on Monday morning.

"We just wanted to, you know, bring some joy to the kids who are here in the hospital who maybe are going through a tough time," said UK's Offensive Tackle Luke Fortner. "Maybe, you know, are really worried about what's happening to them, maybe get their mind off it today. So that's what we're trying to do - play some games with the kids and hand some things out and hopefully brighten their day up a little bit."

They had a homecoming party and even an indoor parade.

Big Blue players said its events like this - that bring smiles not only to kids - but to them too.

"Kids are the best because you never know what they are going to say," said Fortner. "They always make you smile. It may sound a little selfish, but when I'm having a bad week I come and it makes my week a lot better. They don't know it, but they are giving me a lot in return."

Fortner, Sawyer Smith and Matt Ruffolo were in attendance on Tuesday.

UK will take on Arkansas at Kroger Field on Saturday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m.