Ryan Anderson reckons the lads are OK, even if they’re Killie fans.

“I think we make their day, but they make ours too. Last time we visited one wee girl just stood there open-mouthed. She was so shocked she couldn’t speak.”
Craig agreed, “There’s nothing more worthwhile. It can often be hard to visit a hospital ward, but the kids here really pick you up. If you’re feeling down it’s incredible, the kids are so positive.
Finalists
“There’s no better cause. It’s not fair that these kids haven’t had the right start in life. By supporting The Sunday Post’s campaign you can give them that chance.”
The brothers visited Yorkhill with their fellow finalists during the X Factor tour in March. At the time they met 11-year-old Alex McGregor (left), who has been a patient at Yorkhill for several months.
He was keen to know how Ray and the brothers’ other X Factor pals had been getting on since their visit.
The next fan they met was 13-year-old Channan Sangha (right), who is being treated for chronic asthma. Channan has only ever watched the brothers on TV and reckons they’re quite different in the flesh.
“I bet you think we look taller on the telly,” Craig joked. The pair grinned when Channan suggested they look even better in real life.
Tiny Abigail Locher (left) was also in line for a photo, though at just 18 months old, perhaps it was shy mum Lauren who really wanted to meet the MacDonalds. Abigail has been at the hospital since birth with bowel disorder Hirschsprung’s disease. Louise is at her daughter’s side from morning to evening.
In the room next door is 13-year-old Shannon Sweeney (right) who suffers from cystic fibrosis. She’s in and out of Yorkhill all the time, and keeps her Xbox 360 console by her bedside for entertainment. 
Shannon couldn’t resist challenging Brian on NBA Basketball. “I’ll be rubbish,” he admitted. “We’ve been too busy touring to play computer games.”
Cheeky
Shannon giggled as cheeky Craig couldn’t resist another joke at his younger brother’s expense. “You’d better score — because you’re too short to play basketball in real life.”
Team colours were proudly on show when Craig and Brain met 13-year-old Ryan Anderson, lying in bed in his Celtic strip.
Ryan said he wasn’t too bothered that the pair are Kilmarnock fans, and asked if they would sign an autograph for his mum. “How does she spell her name?” Brian asked.
“P, H, Y, L, L, I, S”, an excited female voice piped-up from across the ward.
After a fantastic morning, the brothers left smiling faces on kids and mums alike. Craig and Brian jumped back in the car to continue their tour. With second album The World Outside out next month it’s a busy time for them.
Yorkhill fundraiser Louise Miles is delighted they found time to support the appeal. She said, “They said they’d come back and kept their promise. It brightens the children’s day, but it’s more than that, the excitement keeps everyone going for months. We’re still talking about the last time they were here, and now they’re back again.
“It makes a huge difference.”

IF YOU have a special reason for contributing to or raising funds for our appeal then we’d like to hear from you. 
It could be that you’d like to thank caring staff for the treatment they’ve provided in your hour of need. Or perhaps a relative spent time in one of Scotland’s children’s hospitals and the experience has left a lasting impression on your family’s life.
Whatever the reason, please let us know. 
We’d be delighted to share your experiences with our readers. And, who knows, it may inspire others to follow in your fund-raising footsteps.

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