Matthew McKenzie (left), eight, reads to four-year-old Danille Wilson during the GlaxoSmithKline's Children's Panadol treat on Saturday at the Burn Unit of the Bustamante Hospital for Children in St Andrew. Looking on is Matthew's younger brother, seven-year-old Joel. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

Among the nominees for the heart-tugging moment of the year are Matthew and Joel McKenzie reading to young patients, some of whom are wheelchair mobile and recovering from third-degree burns at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

They could have spent the day watching cartoons but the boys preferred to put words into action. The big gesture belied their size.

The boys also donated approximately 22 books to the children and the hospital. Matthew, eight, and Joel, a year his junior, are brothers and the sons of Sophia McKenzie, an employee of GlaxoSmithKline Caribbean Limited.

The research-based pharmaceutical company hosted its Children's Panadol treat at the hospital's Burn Unit on Saturday. The treat was first held more than 15 years ago.

Matthew and Joel, Ardenne Preparatory School students, were neither coaxed into attending the event nor were they instructed to do the good deed by their parents.

The idea was actually the brainchild of Joel. His brother later caught the vision.

"I told him we were going and he wanted to come and read," their mom explained.

Joel, a grade-two student, said he decided to do it so that "they (the children) even at least have a story".

Matthew, who is in the third grade, said he went with his gut instincts. "I just felt to do it," he said.

When The Gleaner arrived Saturday, Matthew was in full swing reading to a 13-year-old boy. The teenager suffered third-degree burns to his legs in 2007. He is still unable to walk. But Matthew took him places by reading to him from one of the books he brought to the treat on the weekend.

Misses school

Although, the youngster, whose identity cannot be revealed, ate ice cream and cake, had his face painted by a clown and enjoyed other fun-filled activities, he said listening to the stories was the highlight for him. He told The Gleaner that he loves to read and that Matthew's gesture made him miss going to school.

Matthew and Joel also read to little Danille Wilson. In December 2008, a truck ran over Danille's leg. She, too, is wheelchair mobile. Danille's mother, Liesagay Wilson, said her bubbly bundle of joy, who loves to dance, will need therapy to walk again. Maybe in an attempt to give her courage, the brothers read to her from a book called Sabre-Toothed Tiger.

GlaxoSmithKline also gave stuffed toys and other goodies to the children.

tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com