Everton and Sunderland to raise money for Lowery Foundation

LONDON: Everton and Sunderland, the two football clubs most associated with the late Bradley Lowery (pic) who became one of the iconic faces of last season’s English Premier League campaign, are to raise money for the foundation named after him.

The two clubs meet in the League Cup and will sport shirts with the logo of the Lowery Foundation – set up by Bradley’s parents to advise and help other parents who have young children with serious illnesses – before the players sign them after the match and they are auctioned.

Bradley was a devout Sunderland fan, forming an espe- cially close relationship with their then star striker Jermain Defoe but it was at their Premier League clash at Goodison Park early last season where he began to capture the imagination of a much wider audience.

Not only was his name chanted live on television in the fifth minute that evening – he was five at the time – but Everton said they would make a generous contribution for proposed treatment for Bradley, who suffered from a rare form of cancer neuroblastoma, in the United States.

Sunderland also contributed towards the treatment but ultimately Bradley’s condition wors- ened and he was unable to go.

“The players of Everton and Sunderland will be wearing the logo of the Bradley Lowery Foundation on their shirts for Wednesday night’s League Cup tie at Goodison Park,” read a statement on the Everton website.

“Everton’s official shirt sponsors and the shirt sponsors of the Black Cats (Sunderland) have both kindly donated their shirt space for Wednesday’s third round tie as a tribute to the young Sunderland fan who captured the hearts of the footballing world during his brave battle with neuroblastoma.”