Boro have a busy end of season schedule, with every game a must win, but off the pitch, MFC in the Community are also working tirelessly to raise awareness to a host of local charities as part of their 'Community Champions' initiative.
Last Monday, current Boro captain Barry Robson, fellow midfielder Julio Arca and striker Lee Miller visited Stockton based charity Daisy Chain.
Daisy Chain is a provides holistic support and respite care for families across the Tees Valley who have children with autism.
Whilst providing support and resource for affected families, the charity also provides stimulating surroundings for the children to help encourage their development via play, dance, arts and interaction with animals.
The players were invited Monday's open day, to visit the farm and newly-built indoor centre.
First on the itinerary was a visit to the farm.
Julio Arca volunteered to bottle-feed a baby lamb, which happened to be black, prompting Lee Miller to comment "There's a family resemblance their Julio, with the black curls!"
The lamb was born last Saturday, the same day as Boro beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at the Riverside.
Robson and Miller continued to offer 'encouragement ' as Arca got to grips with the lamb, yelling "How's your arm Julio?!"
After the excitement with the lamb, the players visited the pig pens, the rabbits, and the guinea pigs.
The it was back outside to meet a pony called Muppet, and two donkeys, one of which was named Smoggy!
The players showed the children how to feed the animals, by holding their hands out flat with the feed to allow the animals to take it easily without nipping anybody's fingers.
Barry Robson and Lee Miller even climbed the fence with a couple of the children for some photographs with the donkeys, before moving onto the goats.
The tour continued with a visit to the outdoor play area which includes a track for specially designed three wheel bicycles with adjustable seats.
Miller's eyes lit up, "I'm having a go at that!" he said.
Robson was more hesitant, explaining: "I'd rather the kids were on them than me."
But all three players were eventually persuaded to take the wheel, driving a selection of the children round and round the track.
"That was hard work!" commented Julio, after several circuits.
Finally there was a visit to the indoor soft play area, which was funded by TMF's Cash For Kids scheme.
Robson and Miller engaged in a complicated version of 'tag' which involved all the children running after the nearest player, and Robson pausing every so often to throw a ball at the back of Miller''s head, with pinpoint accuracy every time!
Afterwards, the players signed programmes and posed for pictures.
Robson, said: "It's good for the kids. It can be hard to come here when you've got three kids of your own, its hard to see what other kids have to go through...
"But when you can see that the kids love it, you enjoy it, you can put a smile on their faces for a couple of minutes, and that is always worth doing."
'Community Champions' will see Boro players make personal appearances to help local charities and good causes raise awareness of their projects.
Daisy Chain were one of three local charities who won a Boro visit together with a shirt signed by the first team and 10 tickets for the club's final home game with Coventry City.
Stockton charity The Shaw Trust and Middlesbrough's Sunnyside Primary School will also receive visits from Boro players, who have also made special appearances at three major MFC in the Community events.
Runners-up were Spennymoor-based cerebral palsy charity Heel to Toe, Laurence Jackson School of Guisborough and Captain Cook Primary School in Marton, Each will receive a Boro shirt signed by the first team squad.
Under a motto of 'The heart of the community', Boro are renowned for their charitable work. Boro stars have made more than 400 community appearances over the past 12 months, while the club's community project is one of the biggest and best in the country.
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 16-4-10
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