Several young hospital patients facing difficult circumstances received a major boost on Thursday afternoon as a contingent of current and former Kansas City Chiefs' players – led by safety Tyrann Mathieu – stopped by for a visit.

The group – which included tight ends Blake Bell, Deon Yelder and David Wells in addition to Chiefs Ambassadors Keith Cash and Kendall Gammon – spent more than an hour with kids in the pediatric unit at The University of Kansas Health System as part of the visit, handing out custom Chiefs-themed bears and spreading plenty of hope along the way.

"I had a chance to meet quite a few kids – many of which are going through difficult times and trying situations," Mathieu said. "I think any time that you have an opportunity to lend your hand or even give kids a little bit of hope, that's always a good thing – not only for them, but for yourself."

Mathieu, who signed with the Chiefs in March, also saw the event as an opportunity to get to know his new town – and in a pretty impactful way, at that.