Bradley Lowery is a five-year-old kid who suffers from a cancer called neuroblastoma and, since January 2013, has been bravely fighting against the disease. However, his heartbroken mother revealed at the start of last month that Bradley has only months to live.
Bradley, a big Sunderland fan, has captured the hearts and minds of his club and its fans. But it isn't just Sunderland that have been taken by his story and stepped in to help him. In September Everton earned much praise for donating £200,000 to the fund set up in Bradley's name that aimed to pay for his treatment at a stage when his parents were still hopeful of a cure (now the fund is set to be invested in the treatment of neuroblastoma and the formation of a charity aiming to help other children affected by Bradley's condition).
Bradley was then awarded the joint 'Goal of the Month' by Match of the Day for the fine effort below, earning himself a shout-out by his co-winner Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the process.
Seriously ill Bradley Lowery has won @BBCMOTD's goal of the month award for December.
A class act. pic.twitter.com/ijdYctcT76— Arsenal TSN (@ArsenalTSN) January 2, 2017
And this weekend, when Everton played host to Manchester City, the Merseyside club continued their kindness towards young Bradley by inviting him along to the game, where he got to meet all the players and have a kickabout on the pitch.
Everton's Romelu Lukaku carries Bradley Lowery out before their match against Manchester City ??? pic.twitter.com/R5RCfdpI51
— Football Away Days (@sportingawayday) January 15, 2017
Listen to the cheer from the fans as he bangs in the goal (below). For Bradley and his family, going through such an unspeakably hard time, it's lovely that football - for all its flaws - has given them a little bit of happiness in this way.
One Man City supporters group even created a special flag for Bradley carrying the slogan used on his social media updates, #cancerhasnocolours.
Cancer has no colours. pic.twitter.com/TlfneSZigm
— mcfc lads (@mcfc_lads) January 15, 2017
Bradley's family thanked Everton after the match for the kindness shown to him by the club.
Wow what an amazing time we have had, thankyou @Everton you really are the people's club #CancerHasNoColours pic.twitter.com/Zxyml96a5A
— Bradley Lowery Foundation (@Bradleysfight) January 15, 2017
And other football fans chipped in, clearly touched by both Bradley's story and the Toffees' gesture.
Well done Everton not just in thumping City but making Bradley Lowery ther mascot - proper Football club -proud to be an Evertonian #EVEMCI
— Barry Delaney (@thebaz_dublin) January 15, 2017
Everton have been class with Bradley, done everything for him.. football is brilliant isn't it, what a little legend @Bradleysfight ❤💙 pic.twitter.com/qG6yG5YIuP
— Michael. (@MJJ93__) January 15, 2017
Everton fans are some of the classiest around like, incredible the way they've treated Bradley.
— Stout (@Stout97_) January 15, 2017
You can find Bradley's fundraising page here and follow his progress on Twitter or Facebook.
