Hawke's Bay children diagnosed with rheumatic fever yesterday met their rugby idols at an afternoon tea designed to raise awareness about the disease.
More than 100 children with the disease and their families attended a meet-and-greet organised by Hawke's Bay District Health Board (DHB) with Magpies players Robbie Fruean, Ryan Tongia, Brendon Edmonds and Adrian Barone at Napier's McLean Park.
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory and potentially life-threatening disease which may develop after a streptococcal infection, such as a sore throat.
Julia Haydon-Carr, project manager of the DHB's rheumatic fever programme, said about 65 patients were registered with the DHB with the disease.
Yesterday's event was about hammering home the importance of patients taking penicillin injections every 28 days.