Everton’s Courtney Brosnan, Heather Payne and Lucy Hope visited Claire House this week to help raise awareness of the charity's Butterfly Bake campaign.

Claire House is a children’s hospice that helps seriously and terminally ill children live life to the fullest by creating lasting memories and support for families going through the toughest times of their lives.

The Women’s senior stars were in attendance as part of the Butterfly Bake campaign, an initiative named after the bereavement care provided in the butterfly suites at the West Derby facility. The Butterfly is the symbol chosen by the children’s hospice because it is beautiful, yet fragile.

As part of the visit, the Everton trio helped decorate some cupcakes alongside families.

Blues midfielder Hope told the evertonfc.com: “We’ve been down here at Claire House for the Butterfly Bake campaign which essentially helps people and families who have got children who are potentially coming to end of life care.

“We’ve been cake decorating so it’s been light-hearted, everyone is in a good mood, and we’ve been getting covered in flour!

“The families, if they didn’t have Claire House, they would be lost. They work closely with Alder Hey hospital and this place is a respite centre for them to give that extra care to the families that need it.

“The fact that they can come in here, smile, enjoy themselves and take their minds of everything that is going on at home – Claire House is like a hug to the families.”

It was an emotional visit for those involved and Hope said she felt honoured to be able to give back by visiting the children’s hospice.

“If I had all the money in the world, I would give back to Claire House,” she added.

“The fact that they can come to our games and cheer us on, the support is massive for us. Now we are doing our bit coming back, I hope the kids can see that we are normal humans, they can interact with us, play with us, and have conversations with us.”

At the end of the visit the players handed out tickets for the families to attend next weekend’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Having met the special families, Hope said it’s added incentive for herself and the squad to go out and secure a derby win.

“I’ve already promised one of the boys Jacob - I said I better see him there, so I’ll be looking out for him especially," she said.

Goalkeeper Brosnan added: “It’s been absolutely amazing. All the staff have been amazing and welcoming. They gave us a tour and told us about everything they do for the families here.

“Just being able to interact with the families here, draw some pictures and decorate some cakes with them has been really special.

“I think it’s really important and special to be involved in that.

“To be able to interact off the pitch and show our personal side with them in a different setting means a lot to me and I’m sure to all of the other girls as well.”

In 2023, Claire House cared for and supported 100 babies, children and young adults at the end of their life.

For more information on how the children’s hospice supports families and how to donate, click here.