Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Dream come Lew
Terminally ill Harry, 5, who inspired Hamilton to victory, is sent his Mercedes F1 supercar
A TERMINALLY ill little boy who inspired Lewis Hamilton to win the Spanish Grand Prix was sent an F1 car as a thank you.
Harry Shaw, five, who is facing his final days battling a rare form of bone cancer, filmed a touching good luck message to the superstar driver before Sunday’s race in Barcelona.
Lewis, 34, later called Harry his “spirit angel” and dedicated his win to the brave boy.
Harry was given just a week to live on April 29, eight months after doctors found a tumour in his chest.
Lewis’s Mercedes team hastily arranged for one of their Formula One cars to park outside Harry’s home yesterday in Redhill, Surrey.
And the youngster, cradled in his father James’s arms, was shown around the car by a Mercedes employee. It was the first time he had been outside in three weeks. Harry was also presented with Lewis’s trophy from the race in Barcelona, and a pair of the world champion’s gloves.
Lewis also recorded a video message of support for him to watch.
Dad James said: “I cannot describe how much it means to us all that Lewis won the race for Harry and then dedicated it to Harry.
“At a tremendously difficult time, this has provided us with a big boost, and a big smile.
“Harry couldn’t believe that Lewis Hamilton had dedicated the race to him.
“He now thinks Lewis is his absolute best friend which, for a five-year-old boy, is amazing. Harry loves cars and although he is frail, he was asking about the exhaust pipe. He is very inquisitive, so that is typical of Harry, asking questions and getting involved. Mercedes have taken us to a much better place in a dark time.” The world champions did not want to publicise their touching gesture, which involved team members jetting out of Barcelona on Sunday.
But Harry’s parents, James and Charlotte, are keen to talk about their son’s illness in a bid to raise money for research into Ewing’s sarcoma. Their Justgiving page has already hit £20,000.