On Tuesday morning (10.12), Marcelinho, Marquinhos, Laprovittola, Gegê, Olivinha, Meyinsse, Shilton, Cristiano Felício and members of the coaching staff visited the State Children's Hospital, in the Vila Valqueire neighborhood, in the city of Rio. The members of the red-black basketball team went to the outpatient clinic and the chemotherapy and orthopedics wards, dressed one of the boys with Vitor Benite's jersey, who is recovering from an injury, and talked and played with the little ones, who took the opportunity to take photos with their idols.

In its eight months of operation, the State Children's Hospital (HEC) has performed 2.548 surgical procedures, including 1.483 orthopedic procedures, 5.407 consultations, and 3.978 exams. The hospital ranks second in pediatric transplants nationwide and is a leading provider of pediatric surgeries in Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro point guard Gegê praised the institution's facilities and expressed his satisfaction at seeing the joy of the young patients watching the team.

"Seeing the joy these children feel after our visit is priceless. The hospital deserves congratulations for the work it has been doing; the facilities are wonderful, all for the children's benefit. Let's hope they recover as quickly as possible, and I think our visit encourages them even more. I have no words to describe what this visit was like. Today I know the meaning of my work for these children," he said. 

Coach José Neto noted that experiences like this, in addition to being fantastic for the children, serve as a life example for the athletes.

"I tell them (athletes) every day what overcoming means for sport. When we step out of our sporting cocoon and see a different reality, as we saw today, then we can truly understand what overcoming means. It's an example for us, a huge motivation to face difficulties in a different way," he declared.