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Racer's visit brings boost to patients

Ethan Saundersat Leighton Hospital
BBC Four male race car drivers and one female nurse. The men are wearing mostly black apart from the one in the centre who has a green, blue and orange long sleeve top on. They are all smiling for a photo.BBC
Nicolas Hamilton (centre) and other BTCC drivers spent time walking round the hospital speaking to as many patients and staff as possible

British Touring Car Champion Nicolas Hamilton returned to his roots and has visited patients and staff at a hospital in the town where his family is from.

The brother of Formula One star Lewis Hamilton has previously visited Leighton hospital, Cheshire, to spend time with those there and this time brought other competitors from the British Touring Car Championship along with him.

"It's the second year in a row, I think it's really important to have days like this, for us to give back and show appreciation for the NHS", Hamilton said.

The day saw the team of racers spending time talking and taking photos with staff and patients.

Getty Images Nic Hamilton looking at his brother Lewis smiling and laughing together.Getty Images
Lewis and Nic Hamilton are often seen at races together.

Born with cerebral palsy, Hamilton is no stranger to hospitals, spending a lot of his early life in them and even being told by doctors he wouldn't be able to walk.

In 2015, he became the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) first disabled driver, and he recently became the first disabled athlete to ever podium at the BTCC.

The racer has links to the area with his mother side of the family originating from Crewe.

"She was actually born in this hospital", he said.

"Crewe is very close to my heart, [as] I used to come here every month and see my mum's side of the family."

When asked why he did these visits, Hamilton said: "It can get a bit lonely and you don't really have people to talk to".

"I think sometimes the NHS can be undervalued in a lot of areas, so I feel like I have done my bit in showing my appreciation", he added.

A women with short blonde hair with a black and pink top on. she is looking at the camera smiling. She is sat on a chair with a support pillow behind her.
One of the patients visited by the racers was Christine Ward who was very appreciative of the visit.

The visit saw Hamilton taking time to walk round the wards and spend time with patients.

One of those he stopped by was Christine Ward who was in hospital with a broken leg, due to an accident involving a car.

"We have had such a laugh I didn't think I would feel this good again after what's happened to me".

"They don't have to do this, they are so busy but they don't realise how it builds people up," she added.

She joked: "It's been worth a knock down in a car to achieve this".

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