The Lady Vols hosted a Christmas party for the East Tennessee Children's Hospital on Tuesday.
Fifteen patients battling cancer or blood disease and their families were invited to join the team for photos, food and some holiday fun.
"Just the simple things of Santa walking in to decorating cookies, to just having simple hot chocolate with the kids, and catching up on a little bit of basketball is very special," said senior forward Kortney Dunbar.
In years past, the team has visited the hospital, but this year they decided to change things up and give the kids a place to get away.
We did a little room-to-room invite and that was really fun. I love going to the hospital personally, but having them come here is so different," said Dunbar. That's such a special experience."
For parents like Kesha Carr who have children who haven't been able to get out much, it provided a breath of fresh air.
Kesha's son Keyon was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive childhood cancer, in October and has spent most of his time in the house or at the hospital.
"It's kind of an edge off for us to come here," Kesha said. "I told him all day we were coming to a party so he was excited about that. He's been at home for like three months just in the house. It was just exciting for us to go somewhere that's not the hospital."
It was a special day for the little ones, their families and for the players.
"It's nice to give back and just be there for them," said junior center Cheridene Green.