Shirt auction for Bradley’s charity

A LUCKY lottery winner is hoping to give the Bradley Lowery Foundation a boost by auctioning off a shirt signed by Jermain Defoe.

Kenny Ashton from Boldon Colliery has been raising cash for the charity for the past year and hopes the shirt will raise a considerable amount.

The DJ organised the music for the wake after the six-year-old was laid to rest last Friday.

At the wake, he was talking to mum Gemma about his plans to sell off the “Superhero 1 Bradley Lowery” Sunderland shirt he wore to the funeral.

Gemma arranged for Jermain Defoe to sign the shirt in the hope it would raise more funds at auction for the cause.

Kenny said: “The family said no asking for autographs and I want to make it clear I did not do that, it was Gemma

DJ Kenny Ashton and the shirt signed by Jermain Defoe who sorted the signature. Hopefully it means that it will raise more money for the foundation.”

Kenny stumbled on some good luck last year, scooping £1m on a scratchcard.

He gave up his day job as a salesman but continued to work as a DJ and hosting discos for children’s parties, donating all the funds to Bradley Lowery’s appeal.

He said: “I first met Bradley years ago when he was first diagnosed, at a kid’s birthday party.

“He was dressed as superman and dancing about having fun and smiling and as soon as I saw that smile he got me.

“It was instant and I’ve been raising money since.”

The die-hard Newcastle fan’s personalised shirt caught a lot of attention from photographers on the day of the funeral, but he admits it was strange wearing his rival’s kit.

“It didn’t feel right wearing red and white but then I remembered why and the reason I was doing it and it was fine. “He was an inspirational lad.” Bids for the signed shirt are currently at £700 and the auction will close on Monday evening.

See www.facebook.com/ events/287099671754869 for more details or to bid. Family, friends and wellwishers continue to raise funds for the foundation named in Bradley’s honour