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Leighton Baines interview: Everton star sees bigger picture on Alder Hey hospital visit
LEIGHTON BAINES has always been profoundly affected by his visits to Alder Hey, although these days he recognises the impact his presence has on the children is just as striking.
Caleb Murphy idolises the Everton and England left-back Leighton Baines
When Everton face league leaders Leicester City on Saturday, the mascots, or 22 Little Heroes as they have been dubbed, taking to the pitch with the teams are all patients at the world-renowned hospital and have been invited by Baines who is a patron.
One of those is Caleb Murphy, aged five. He has cerebral palsy in his left Achilles tendon, which affects his mobility, and when he is doing his physiotherapy exercises he pretends to be his idol: the England left-back.
“The first couple of times we went as a team it had a big impact on me,” said Baines, who took part in Everton’s Christmas visit to the hospital yesterday.
Baines said his visits to the Alder Hey Children's Hospital had a big impact on him
“It takes a while to buy into yourself as someone who some kids are actually bothered about.
“You don’t recognise yourself as a footballer at times - I don’t - you don’t relate to other people’s ideas of a footballer.
“Their situation is so tough, but the enthusiasm and fight they have got is incredible. We had sheets with all the information on and there is a four-year-old with this illness and a five-year-old with that and twins…