Little Bradley Lowery’s battle against cancer has captured the hearts of football fans across the world.
The five-year-old was diagnosed with neuroblastoma – a rare type of cancer that usually affects young children – in 2013 and is now said to have just months to live.
An avid football fan himself, Bradley’s story came to the attention of many when he was mascot for his beloved Sunderland team last year.
Since then, he’s been voted joint winner of January’s Premier League goal of the month and formed a special friendship with his hero, Jermain Defoe, who visited him as he received life-extending treatment in hospital.
On Sunday afternoon, Bradley was one of the 11 mascots that accompanied England’s players on to the Wembley turf before of their World Cup qualifier with Lithuania. Ahead of the game, cameras captured Bradley in conversation with Defoe – recently recalled to the national team for the first time in four years – in the tunnel.
The pair were initially standing behind Joe Hart, England’s captain for the day. However, the goalkeeper then appeared to let them move to the front of the line, giving Bradley the chance to lead England out.
Lovely stuff.
For more information about Bradley’s Fight, please click here.
Tonight's captain Joe Hart lets @Bradleysfight and @IAmJermainDefoe lead @England out: pic.twitter.com/DdUPKUGxUE
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 26, 2017
