RYAN GIGGS had a busy day off the field as he donned a hard hat to embark on his first ever tour of East Cheshire Hospice’s newest facilities last week.

The Manchester United star – now a patron of the charity’s ‘Caring for our Future’ Capital Appeal – also found time to meet patients and staff, between launching the appeal’s new brand identity.

Chief executive of East Cheshire Hospice (ECH), Jayne Bessant, expressed her delight in welcoming the most decorated player in British football history through their doors, as we exclusively revealed in the Express last week.

She said: "We are all really excited that he could be there to launch our new branding.  He seemed to touch the lives of people he visited in the hospice, had a fantastic rapport with everyone he met and was very down to earth."

Speaking after his tour of the hospice, Ryan Giggs, OBE, said: "I’m hoping to help out ECH where I can. The next stage is moving on from the walk and trying to raise more money and awareness.  I have been to hospices before and can see what ECH are trying to do. The new building is great, the bright lights inside and the garden and water features outside are going to look good.  In this country you need as much light as you can, especially with the weather, it really helps make anywhere look better."

Ryan’s trip coincided with the biggest fundraising appeal in the hospice’s 20 year history – to raise £2.5 million to fund a three phase building development, that will update and transform its facilities.

And Jayne discussed the importance of the new brand: "The new brand identity is fun and lively and the bee imagery links really well with our existing sunflower badge. Everyone associates bees with being busy and with working together and that’s something we’ll need to do if we are to reach our target."

Fiona Reed, the hospice’s major relationships manager, said Ryan’s vist was invaluable.

"When people see Ryan is caring for our future, hopefully they will join in!"

On his arrival Ryan got straight down to business, launching the new ECH appeal brand, before receiving an induction and then a guided tour of the new building.

But for the 34-year-old Welshman, who lives in Worsley, this was his first proper visit to Macclesfield.

"I’ve enjoyed my first visit. We get the train from Macclesfield or Stockport when we have games in London. It’s just so much easier," he said. "I’ve never played at the Moss Rose. It’s one of the few grounds I haven’t played at."

MP for Macclesfield Sir Nicholas Winterton led the praise for the flying winger.

He said: "If a well known successful footballer is prepared to associate himself with the appeal then I’m delighted.  I only hope Mr Giggs will be generous and encourage other people he knows to be similarly generous to allow the hospice to be completed."

And Phil Robertshaw, fundraising and communications manager at ECH, backed him up by saying: "With Ryan’s visit, he has helped get the message across that the new development needs.  He’s offered to help out where he can. Ideas are now on the table. It’s now just about waiting and seeing how we move forward with them."

And Ryan added: "I’m sure the new facilities will not only be good for patients and their families but for those that work here as well."