A brave five-year-old lad battling cancer has been swamped with a staggering 11,000 Xmas cards from all over the world after an appeal backed by soccer star John Terry.
The appeal was launched after Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery discovered that a rare neuroblastoma cancer he had beaten in 2013 had returned and spread.
An Everton soccer fan made the suggestion that fellow football supporters should sent a Christmas card to Bradley to cheer him up.
The youngster has been undergoing treatment at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and will be given oral chemotherapy in the run up to Christmas.
This will be backed up by antibody and chemotherapy to be used in the New Year to give them as much time as possible.
Soccer ace John Terry saw the Everton fan’s call for cards and decided to get involved and give the campaign his support – with more than 30,000 followers liking the message he put out to his 2.8million followers.
He posted via his Instagram @johnterry.26: “I have just heard that little Bradley Lowery only has two months to live and his wish is to receive thousands and thousands of Christmas cards.
“Bradley has cancer and hearing this awful news has broken my heart.
“I will be sending young Bradley a card and a signed shirt.
“I’m urging all my followers to make this little boys dreams come true and send him a Christmas card.”
The card has also been backed by former footballers Robbie Fowler, Alan Shearer and Jamie Redknapp as well as boxer Frank Bruno, singer and actress Kym Marsh and Spurs striker Harry Kane.
Bradley’s mum Gemma Lowery, said: “He’s had about 11,000 cards since Thursday morning.
“We’ve had about 8,000 cards come through today (Tuesday December 13), the Royal Mail have had their own van just full of his stuff.
“He’s been sent loads of presents too.
“He’s got superheroes and teddies and people have even been sending money for him to go on day trips.
“There had been cards and messages from other children as well which has been really lovely to read.
“The campaign has gone around the world and we have been mentioned in Belgium and Bradley appeared on US TV last night.
“We’ve had money from Africa, cards from Bangkok, Toronto, Australia and the Netherlands. It has been crazy.
“There are that many cards that my family has had to come round and help open the cards and presents.
“We are going to have to call in other people to help as we have opened five boxes so far and we still have 42 left to go.
“It’s like Christmas everyday in our house at the moment as I have to give Bradley another lot of present every couple of hours because there is just that many he would never be able to open them all if we waited for Christmas.”
Bradley Lowery’s Fight campaign said: “Can I just say up to now the response has been immense and we can’t thank everyone enough for your kind words.
“Please remember if Bradley is having a good day the family will be out having adventures with him, so this is why the postal address is not Bradley’s home address.
“We look forward to reading your kind words with Brad and the gifts and money he has received is fantastic.
“We want to say a huge thank you to you all for helping make Bradley’s Christmas the most memorable ever.”
