Two Ultimate Fighting Championship athletes, Gian Villante and Aljamain Sterling, made an exciting visit to the Child Life Zone at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital on Thursday, November 1, where they appeared on a live KidZone TV show that was broadcast throughout the hospital.
The two mixed martial arts fighters answered questions from the pediatric viewing audience and later visited children at their bedsides, where they chatted, handed out action figures, and posed for keepsake photos.
“They brought such joy and truly lifted the spirits of our pediatric patients and families through their in-person and on-air interactions,” says Diane Rode, Director, Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy, Mount Sinai Kravis Children’ s Hospital.
Mr. Sterling said he was happy to visit the hospital and serve briefly as a role model. “For the kids, I related it all to life: You lose sometimes. There are ups and down; there are obstacles, but you always have to get back up and keep pushing forward.”
From left: Aljamain Sterling, patient Andres Mendoza, and Gian Villante.