Jermain Defoe pays emotional tribute to ‘best pal’ Bradley Lowery and says highlight of Sunderland stint walking onto pitch with cancer kid
JERMAIN Defoe has penned an emotional tribute to his "best pal" Bradley Lowery - saying his favourite part of playing for Sunderland was walking on to the pitch with the brave youngster.
The striker is moving from the club and has joined Bournemouth on a free transfer.
But he wrote an emotional letter after building up a close friendship with terminally ill six-year-old Bradley.
The brave youngster has been battling neuroblastoma – a rare form of cancer – for most of his life.
Sunderland superfan Bradley had led his beloved club out against Everton in March - just days after it emerged he had a new tumour.
Defoe said: "I'd like to thank all the Sunderland fans for their support and everyone else involved with the football club.
"I had an amazing time with many great memories.
"I'm going to miss so many people at the club from the canteen staff and the chef to the laundry girls and the cleaners who always made the boys smile no matter what.
"I feel blessed to have played for such a great football club with some of the best fans I've ever come across.
"The highlight of my time has to be walking out with Bradley against Everton and that volley against Newcastle - a goal people still come up to me and talk about!!"
He ended the letter by wishing everyone at Sunderland the "best for the future".
It comes after Bradley's devastated mum Gemma yesterday revealed the sick youngster is "deteriorating fast".
She wrote: "Bradley is deteriorating fast, his temperature is going very high his breathing very fast his oxygen levels low.
"He is sleeping most the time apart from odd times awake.
"We knew this was coming but we are heart broken beyond words.
"We have been told he could be like this for days it just depends on him and his body."
MOST READ IN NEWS
Gemma also posted a poignant snap of Bradley being hugged by Kieran with the caption: "My two boys my world my everything".
Terminally-ill Bradley recently enjoyed a beach holiday with his family after Gemma and dad Carl were told he has just weeks to live.
Gemma shared a touching snap of the Sunderland superfan beaming as he clutched a lollipop while “making the most of everything” on the trip.
She said: “We were told 3 weeks ago he had weeks to live and he is still going. I am so proud of him he is my little super star.
“I know he could change any day now and when that time comes it’s going to be the hardest thing I've ever had to do but for now we making the most of everything.”
Bradley’s mum also posted a photo of him smiling behind the wheel of the car as the family headed on the trip.
But she revealed earlier this month that Bradley’s health is going downhill rapidly – as “new lumps and bumps” are found “each day”.
She shared the devastating news next to a picture of the youngster, whose story of bravery has touched the nation.
Footballer Defoe – Bradley’s “best friend” – revealed his pain at finding out Bradley’s cancer was spreading fast – and that he doesn’t have long left to live.
The England striker texts the six-year-old’s mum first thing every morning for updates on the brave Sunderland lad.
Defoe struck up his friendship with Bradley back in September when the young cancer sufferer led out his beloved Sunderland against Everton at the Stadium of Light.