Saints fullback Harry Mallinder tackled an exercise class when he met with residents and staff at Cynthia Spencer Hospice this week.
He was visiting ahead of the Cycle 4 Cynthia charity bike ride on September 23 (which he is both starting and taking part in) to find out more about the work that goes on there.
The 22-year-old emerging England player and son of the former Saints coach Jim was given a tour of the hospice.
He brought a smile to faces when he joined in an exercise class with resistance bands and joked: “luckily I ducked out before the brain gym started…”
Harry said: “It was awesome to come down here and meet the staff and also some of the patients and get involved.
“To be honest I didn’t quite know what to expect before coming down and from the moment you enter the reception you are just met by this warmth and that permeates the whole place in terms of the staff and their approach to their jobs. They just love being there and they love the work that they do and I think it’s incredible. It really is uplifting. It was a great morning.”
And he added that the stories he had heard had helped take a view on his recent injury frustrations.
“I guess days like today where I come down here and I have a bit of an insight into individual patients cases and it puts things into perspective. A little lay off from a game that I love and a game that is my job as well is insignificant in the grand scheme of things.”
All of which means Harry is only too keen to do what he can to help out Cycle 4 Cynthia which returns to Althorp House this year but offering its usual choice of five, 25 or 50 miles.
He said: “I did it about six or seven years ago. I did the 25 miles with my dad and Kev the kit man from Saints and some others. There has been a strong connection between Saints and the hospice and the work they do and helping raise money for them through the cycle ride, so when I got asked to launch the cycle ride this year it was something I was interested in doing.
“I have a road bike. I’m a bit of fair weather cyclist but when its a nice day there is not much better than getting out on your bike, you see so much more than in your car. It is good for recovery and the day after a game I quite like to get out and get some fresh air but if I’m honest we have got a game the day before the ride so I might just go for the little 25 mile ride, I don’t think I can do the big one!”
A single entry to the ride is £20 and you can find out more at www.cycle4cynthia.co.uk
