On Tuesday morning (06.06), the red-and-black basketball stars took on a very special mission. Marcelinho, Marquinhos, Olivinha, JP Batista, Rafael Mineiro, Ricardo Fischer, and Humberto, accompanied by coach José Neto and his assistant Rodrigo Carlos, visited the State Children's Hospital in Vila Valqueire, Rio de Janeiro. Seeking to bring smiles to the faces of the little ones, the Rubro-Negro athletes met the warrior children admitted to the hospital, managed by the D'Or Institute of Management and Public Health. The players and staff, who visited the outpatient clinic and the oncology ward, chatted and joked with the patients, who were delighted to see their idols. Thiago Pampolha, Rio's Secretary of Sports, Recreation, and Youth, accompanied the group during the visit to the unit, which is a benchmark for excellence in pediatric care.

The State Children's Hospital has been operating since 2013 and focuses on pediatric transplants, surgery, oncology, and orthopedics. The unit, which serves only SUS (Unified Health System) patients, has 100 beds and can accommodate children aged 0 to 19. Jason Guida, the hospital's medical director, emphasized the importance of visits like Tuesday's for the children hospitalized there. 

"It's very special for us to welcome public figures, celebrities, or athletes, as is the case here today, because it brightens the atmosphere, which is generally quite tough. It's a moment of distraction from their difficult daily lives. So, for us, it was very valuable," the director revealed.

Pampolha, who stood side by side with the Orgulho da Nação players during the visit to the children, also praised the action carried out by FlaBasquete. 

"For these children, it's truly very special to welcome a team that's a benchmark for the entire country, like Flamengo's basketball team. The children here need this kind of gesture, this affection. Flamengo demonstrated this today, and I'm truly pleased to have been part of this initiative and participated in this gesture," said the Secretary. 

Marcelinho Machado, captain of the team wearing the Sacred Mantle, was emotional during the visit and made a point of congratulating the unit's employees for all the work they had done.

"This isn't the first time we've been here, and it's always a unique experience. I have children, and it's really hard to see a child in the hospital. What we try to do on these visits is bring a little joy, a smile to these children, and relax them. I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate the hospital staff for the fantastic work they've been doing," said the player. 

To try to brighten the little ones' day even more, Orgulho da Nação gave some of the patients licensed products from Mais Querido.