Marcus Rashford has revealed how his mum forced through a move Manchester United's academy a year early in order to help him escape growing up in a low-income family.
In an emotional letter, Rashford has called on MPs to reverse the government's decision to end free school meals for low-income familes.
The United striker drew on personal experience, having already helped to raise £20m to supply three million meals to vulnerable people during the coronavirus crisis.
Explaining his passion for the cause, Rashford revealed how his mum got him to join United's academy a year early in order to make sure he was eating right.
He told BBC Breakfast: "The programme that I started at 11 years old, you’re supposed to start it at 12 years old.
"It basically gives you accommodation closer to the training facilities and a new school.
"She worked hard to push it forward, because she knew that for me it was the step I needed to take. I needed to be eating the right foods and I needed to be close to my teammates and my new school friends.
"She made that decision when I was 11 and United allowed it, so that was the reason why I ended up going at a younger age compared to the others.
"It was to help my mum with her situation and also get me out of the situation that I was in."
The 22-year-old says he has memories of being hungry as a child, but knew it was no fault of his family's.
"Yeah of course," he said ." But I knew how hard my Mum was working so I would never moan.
"If there was food on the table, there was food on the table.
"If not, I had friends who understood and it might be possible to go to their house and get some food or whatever."
He added: "My Mum and I used to go to a shop called Poundworld. She did the best she could in the circumstances.
"Some families have four or five kids and it’s hard to take control."
Having grown up in a single-parent household, Rashford is all too aware that things could have been very different for him.
He said: "Forty-five per cent of people like me, black people & different ethnic minorities, are living in poverty.
"I was very close to being one of that 45%. I understand it could have gone either way for me.
"I want to help people and raise awareness. People want to help but they don’t have the understanding or knowledge."
