Jonjo Shelvey has made seven-year-old Londoner Harry Jacobs' dream come after he received a hopeful letter from the young fan.
Like Shelvey, Harry suffers from alopecia totalis, which causes a sudden and complete loss of all body hair. He wrote a letter to Shelvey asking him to visit his primary school. He began:
You are amazing and scored a goal from 47 yards into the top corner. So, so, so good.
I know you play for Swansea. My name is Harry and I have Alopecia like you. Do you like it? I think it is medium because I can’t get nits and don’t have to go to the hairdressers – which is good. I don’t really like it though.
Can you come to my school please, but first to my house. I can take you to school then to meet my friends
Harry's mother completed the letter, adding:
Harry has developed Alopecia really rapidly. He is a mad footy fan and has got some comfort from the fact that you are a Premiership footballer who he can look up to and see that he can still achieve incredible things.
I would really appreciate if you could write back to him. He is going through a really tough time at the moment and it would be a real boost for him to have a response from you.
Shelvey received the letter through Swansea City and invited Harry and his parents to Swansea's game against Southampton. Harry's parents were given the full executive box treatment, while the youngster was kitted out in the Swans' all white and made an official mteam mascot for the day. He was allowed to walk out onto the pitch with Shelvey and took pentalites against Cyril the Swan at half time. After the game Shelvey explained his gesture. He said:
I know what it was like for me growing up as a boy with Alopecia,’’ explained Jonjo afterwards. “It was quite tough for me with people calling me names and things.
I felt for Harry when I got the letter and it was nice for me to share some of my experiences with him and to try and guide him along the right lines.
The best bit though was seeing the look on his face walking out with the team. He said he had a great time – and that’s so special.
