Gemma Lowery, the mum of Bradley Lowery, spoke to the ECHO as the foundation set up to continue his legacy raised awareness of the childhood fight against cancer at Everton's game with West Ham
Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery on the pitch at Goodison Park. The schoolboy built a special connection with Everton and Blues supporters as he fought neuroblastoma. His mum, Gemma Lowery, said she will never forget the club's help as she seeks to support other children battling cancer.
Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery on the pitch at Goodison Park. The schoolboy built a special connection with Everton and Blues supporters as he fought neuroblastoma. His mum, Gemma Lowery, said she will never forget the club's help as she seeks to support other children battling cancer.
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“I can't even put it into words because it was so special… I'll be forever grateful for that.” Gemma Lowery is standing next to the pitch at Everton’s new stadium but her thoughts turn to some of her happy memories at the club’s old home.
It was Goodison Park where Blues embraced her son, Bradley, so emphatically and the support from fans, club officials and former chairman Bill Kenwright created a special bond that offered the family strength as the schoolboy bravely fought cancer.
That Bradley was a Sunderland supporter mattered little. With Everton, the Lowery family felt a connection, one that has been sustained even since Bradley passed away in 2017, aged just six-years-old.
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The relationship started when the little boy, who was fighting Stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma, was guest of honour at the Stadium of Light when the Blues travelled there in 2016.
His story prompted a £200,000 donation from the club to support his efforts to receive specialist treatment in the USA and the following January, when Sunderland visited Goodison, he was carried onto the pitch by home forward Romelu Lukaku in a Mackems shirt that had the words ‘thank you Everton’ on the back.
Bradley Lowery walks out with Romelu Lukaku against Manchester City
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Reflecting on some of the family’s memories of Goodison, Gemma added: “I remember when Bradley was on the pitch in his little Everton kit and the sprinklers came on and his little face, he was fuming, but it was really funny - he did get wet, just a little bit. One more was when he was walking, him and Carl [his dad] were walking off the pitch and everybody was just clapping them and shouting. He absolutely loved being famous. He loved it.”
There is also great fondness for the late club chairman, Kenwright, who Bradley named “Uncle Bill”. The family credit him and the club for helping their efforts to explore treatment to transcend beyond Sunderland and into a campaign that became supported by the wider football community.
Gemma said: “I think the turning point for the campaign was when Bradley was mascot and Bill donated that money. There are no words to describe how much I appreciate that.”
Eleven-year-old Mason Allan, who is fighting leukemia, and his brother Miles, meet Everton players (L-R) Idrissa Gueye, Tim Iroegbunam and Seamus Coleman before the game with West Ham United at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Image: Everton FC
Eleven-year-old Mason Allan, who is fighting leukemia, and his brother Miles, meet Everton players (L-R) Idrissa Gueye, Tim Iroegbunam and Seamus Coleman before the game with West Ham United at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Image: Everton FC
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Gemma was at Hill Dickinson Stadium for Everton’s match with West Ham United on Monday night, a guest as the club supported the Bradley Lowery Foundation’s ‘Cancer has no Colours’ campaign to mark September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Gemma Lowery, the mum of Bradley Lowery, and former England forward Jermain Defoe, a major supporter of Bradley and the charity set up in Bradley's name, raise awareness of the fight against childhood cancer at Everton's game with West Ham. Photo by Jon Super/Everton FC
Gemma Lowery, the mum of Bradley Lowery, and former England forward Jermain Defoe, a major supporter of Bradley and the charity set up in Bradley's name, raise awareness of the fight against childhood cancer at Everton's game with West Ham. Photo by Jon Super/Everton FC
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The effort aims to raise awareness of the fight being waged by children battling cancer, and to fundraise to support families trying to access treatment or equipment not readily available or covered by the NHS.
The charity’s work has helped the family of Everton supporter Holly Barnes, who was a mascot for the match. The five-year-old was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma in May 2024. Following a recent relapse, she is currently receiving a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy as part of a research study funded by charities including The Bradley Lowery Foundation.
Holly, who aside from the Blues loves to dance, was at the match with parents Mark and Kathryn.
Mark told the ECHO: “We’ve both been season ticket holders for a long time. We get support from so many different places and anytime anybody does anything for us, it is great. Days like these are what we look forward to, getting days like this to spend with Holly and make memories.”
Kathryn added: “She is facing so much at hospital that adults would struggle with, so any chance we get for her to be a child and have fun is special. We are so proud of her. She is an inspiration, she is amazing and she gets us through.”
Alongside Holly as a mascot was 11-year old Mason Allan, who was diagnosed with leukaemia earlier this year. He is currently receiving treatment at Alder Hey and his favourite players include Jarrad Branthwaite, Jack Grealish and Jordan Pickford.
Dad Wayne, who was at the game with mum Sarah and Mason’s brother, Miles, said: “He has been so strong. I wouldn’t like to go through what he has been through and I would not wish it on my worst enemy. I don’t know how he does it. This has given him such a lift, when we told him he was ecstatic. We just want to help raise awareness of what children are going through and how people can help.”
Holly, Mason and Miles, a mascot alongside his brother, took in the new stadium from the pitch before meeting Everton players in the tunnel and then again in the dressing room ahead of the match.
For Gemma and the Bradley Lowery Foundation it was a significant day to boost awareness, with former Premier League star Jermain Defoe, who has grown close to the family through his support of Bradley, also attending to conduct media interviews and highlight the work of the charity.
Jack Grealish greets five-year-old Everton supporter Holly Barnes, who is fighting Neuroblastoma, after she was carried onto the pitch at Hill Dickinson Stadium by Iliman Ndiaye before Everton's match with West Ham United. Image: Everton FC
Jack Grealish greets five-year-old Everton supporter Holly Barnes, who is fighting Neuroblastoma, after she was carried onto the pitch at Hill Dickinson Stadium by Iliman Ndiaye before Everton's match with West Ham United. Image: Everton FC
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The Lowery family expect to be back at Everton in May when Sunderland visit. The game is currently scheduled on what would have been Bradley’s 15th birthday, a coincidence that has not been lost on anybody.
Gemma said: “It's just meant to be, isn't it? It's fate and I wouldn't miss that. Sunderland fans have got a lot of respect for Everton fans as well, so I just think it'll be a lush day.”
And of her son’s legacy and impact, which is still resonating today, she concluded: “We're eight years on and he's still continuing to raise awareness and to me, I'm the proudest mam in the world that he's doing this.”
For details of The Bradley Lowery Foundation’s work, and how to support it, visit the charity’s websitehere