Bradley continues to inspire
Reporter RIVAL football fans have scored more than £7,000 for the Bradley Lowery Foundation after holding a match for the charity.
Newcastle and Sunderland supporters came together to play a sevena-side game of football. The teams were made up from members of a Facebook group, the Geordies v Mackems Banter page, who put aside their friendly rivalry.
The game was inspired by six-yearold Bradley’s battle against neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer.
Bradley died in July but his parents set up the foundation in his memory.
The match was organised by Philip Avery, a chef at Premier Inn, who said the result exceeded everyone’s expectations.
He said: “We have a football page on Facebook with Sunderland and Newcastle supporters. Bradley came along and won all our hearts. A few of us came together and decided to play a match. The target was £100 from each player but it got much bigger. My work company, Premier Inn, sponsored us for £1000 and we got funding from friends and family and local businesses.”
The result was 3-3 at full time but Sunderland won 4-3 on penalties.
The match was held at the Washington Millennium Centre with use of the pitch donated by the Bradley Lowery manageress. A massive £7200 was raised by both teams including the proceeds of a raffle and a lump sum of £500 donated by Walker Taxis, which will all go towards the Bradley Lowery Foundation. A rematch has already been set for October 2018.