When cancer shook the world of football

Bradley Lowery (R) and Jermain Defoe (L) [Photo: Courtesy]

English striker Jermain Defoe once held his friend Bradley Lowery high in his arms after an English premier league game. He wiped his tears as his team fans cheered him. Defoe had moved from United States of America to sign for Sunderland where he would meet a new friend in Bradley- a 6-year-old boy whose health was hanging on a cliff, close to the very edge.

Bradley had established a name in the hearts of Sunderland lovers as a mascot but not only that. He was battling neuroblastoma- a type of cancer that was eating him and draining his him. When Chelsea took on Sunderland, Lowery took a penalty and scored against the then Chelsea’s goal keeper Asmir Begovic, to the applause of the fans from all teams.