A five-year-old Sunderland fan’s fight against cancer has been boosted after Everton donated £200,000 to his cause, following Monday night’s victory over Sunderland.
Bradley Lowery’s family’s hope of raising £700,000 to fund potentially life-saving treatment in the US took a step closer to being realised, after fans from across the league followed the club’s lead and pledged donations. By mid morning on Tuesday donations on the fund’s JustGiving page had reached more than £513,000 with one Evertonian writing: “Good luck little man. Looking forward to seeing you at Goodison Park.”
Bradley walked out as his club’s mascot against Everton, which saw Everton’s Romelu Lukaku score a hat-trick to take the visitors to a 3-0 victory. At the five-minute mark of the game fans of both teams chanted his name and clapped for a minute, while some carried a banner with the message “We’re with you, Bradley” around the stadium, as the five-year-old’s father Carl held him in his arms.
The five-year-old is suffering from neuroblastoma for the second time, having been declared to be in remission in 2015 following chemotherapy and a number of operations. The cancer has since returned and Bradley’s family hope treatment in the States could save his life.
Before the game he had a platelet transfusion at Newcastle’s RVI hospital but later joined family and friends in a box provided by the club, according to the Sunderland Echo.
His mother Gemma Lowery said: “He’s been a little bit tired after his transfusion but he’s been so excited. He was hanging out of the limo saying ‘hello Sunderland’, then he got to meet the players who were lovely to him. They said they should be asking for his autograph.”
Sunderland have been supporting Bradley and his family since he was first diagnosed in 2013 and have held fundraisers, raffles and offered matchday experiences to help raise money and awareness of his fight, while players have also used social media to increase donations.
After the final whistle Everton announced it would be donating £200,000 to help Bradley get the treatment he needed, and inviting him and his family back to Goodison Park for the return fixture. The club also said it would be auctioning signed shirts of the players from the game to raise further funds.
More on our donation to @Bradleysfight. Donate here: https://t.co/fxR5tYwG5L pic.twitter.com/aaj493AT4l
— Everton (@Everton) September 12, 2016
The club said via their Twitter account: “Everton Football Club has pledged a donation of £200,000 to support @Bradleysfight in his brave battle.
“We wish Bradley every success and he has the love and support of every Evertonian.”
Responding to the move Everton manager Ronald Koeman – who has taken the club to third place in the Premier League table after Monday’s win, their best start in the top flight for a decade – tweeted “Great from our Chairman”.
Great from our Chairman! 👌
— Ronald Koeman (@RonaldKoeman) September 12, 2016
Fans also praised the club for the move. “You should all be feeling proud. Incredible gesture for @Bradleysfight” tweeted @WEMurray1978, while after the club asked how fans were feeling this morning Evertonian @TheBlueNose23 responded “feeling good, few quid lighter in the pocket like a lot of other fans after that amazing gesture last night. #inspiring”.
@Everton very proud after last nights magnificent gesture to help #BradleysFight
— Andy Gill (@GillyAP) September 13, 2016
@Everton feeling good, few quid lighter in the pocket like a lot of other fans after that amazing gesture last night. #inspiring
— Chris Burkey (@TheBlueNose23) September 13, 2016
Following the donations the fund’s twitter account @Bradleysfight tweeted: “Wow everything still seems so surreal. Thank you to everyone that has raised funds and please keep going #onlyonebradleylowery
Wow everything still seems so surreal. Thank you to everyone that has raised funds and please keep going 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 #onlyonebradleylowery
— Bradley Lowery (@Bradleysfight) September 13, 2016
