I’M SO PROUD – BUT SO SAD

Defoe shares news of his honour with little Bradley’s mum

JERMAIN Defoe said he feels blessed to receive a royal honour – but described it as a time of mixed emotions following the death of his young friend Bradley Lowery.

Ex-Sunderland striker Defoe, 35, said the six-year-old’s mother would be the first person he called to share the “special” news of the recognition for charitable work.

The England player and Bradley formed a strong bond, with the little County Durham boy repeatedly picked to be a mascot for his beloved Sunderland while he battled neuroblastoma.

With the OBE for services to the Jermain Defoe Foundation coming just under a year after Bradley’s death, the sporting star – now playing for Bournemouth - said he felt both pride and sadness.

He said: “It’s obviously mixed emotions because obviously standing here [is] one of the proudest moments of my life, but at the same time [I’m] remembering all the hurt.

“I’ve got great memories of Bradley in my head but it wasn’t easy seeing someone that you love suffer like that, especially a young kid, where he didn’t really understand what was going on and you have to remain positive.”

Having found out the news of the honour over the phone from his mother while he holidayed in Dubai, Defoe, said he was looking forward to telling Bradley’s family in Blackhall, Durham.

“I can’t wait to tell Gemma. I think she is the first person I am going to tell and I know she will be happy,” he said.

Defoe, who said he felt “blessed and humbled” to get the honour, described it as his biggest achievement to date.

“It’s at the top. It’s important to just give back and try and help others,” he said.

Defoe’s foundation was launched in 2010 after a hurricane in St Lucia, the Caribbean island his grandparents came from. The charity aims to open a home for abused and vulnerable children there.