Everton Football Club will welcome the Bradley Lowery Foundation as special guests for Sunday’s final home fixture of the season against Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium, in a matchday that will bring together two powerful initiatives to raise awareness of childhood cancer.
The fixture takes place poignantly just on what would have been Bradley Lowery’s 15th birthday.
Everton and Sunderland supporters will come together to mark the occasion with a banner in his honour, stretching from the upper tier of the North West corner down into the lower section housing visiting fans.
Bradley became a symbol of hope and inspiration through the courage he showed in his fight against Stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer.
He forged a special bond with Evertonians when he appeared as Sunderland’s mascot against the Blues at the Stadium of Light in September 2016.
Following that fixture, Everton Chairman at the time, Bill Kenwright, made a £200,000 donation to support Bradley’s treatment.
That connection was further strengthened when Bradley returned for the reverse fixture at Goodison Park in January 2017, where he was carried onto the pitch in his Sunderland kit by Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.
A Poignant Reunion at the Final Home Fixture
To this day, the Club remains proud to honour and support his legacy.
As part of that ongoing commitment, Carl and Gemma, Bradley’s parents, will attend Sunday’s match as guests of the Club, along with wider members of Bradley’s family.
The Bradley Lowery Foundation provided the mascots for Everton’s fixture with West Ham United in September during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
They continue to support families fundraising for treatment and equipment not readily available through the NHS, while also funding vital research into neuroblastoma and other childhood cancers.
Gemma Lowery, Bradley’s mother and founder of the Bradley Lowery Foundation, said:
“To be back at the stadium and to see both sets of fans coming together to remember Bradley on what would have been his 15th birthday weekend is incredibly emotional, but also a proud moment for us as a family.
“The two clubs [Everton and Sunderland] have both been absolutely amazing.
“It’s precious to me because they were fantastic when Bradley was alive, but to continue that support, and to help us to continue his legacy, has been incredible.
“The awareness they have both raised has been really important.
“It gets people talking about childhood cancer and gets people wanting to do fundraising activities, which in turn, helps us to help other families.”
Shining a Light on the Realities of Childhood Cancer
Alongside the tribute to Bradley, the matchday will also shine a light on the realities faced by children living with cancer, with the Club to support Children With Cancer UK’s ’Too Big’ campaign.
Ahead of kick-off, 11-year-old Kaiden Edwards, who is living with medulloblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, will walk out of the tunnel ahead of kick-off wearing an oversized shirt emblazoned with the message ‘2 BIG’.
The powerful visual highlights the reality that many children undergoing cancer treatment continue to receive medicines and treatment plans designed for adult bodies, often leading to severe and long-term side effects.
Kaiden’s journey began in 2021 and has included major surgery, proton beam therapy and chemotherapy. Following a relapse in 2024, he continues to receive treatment, including chemotherapy delivered via a port, a regimen also commonly used in adult treatment plans.
Supporters can learn more about his experience by watching Kaiden’s Stand Up To Cancer Story.
The moment will mark the launch of the ’Too Big’ campaign, which calls for increased funding into research and the development of safer, more effective treatments specifically tailored for children and young people.
With just 2% of cancer research funding currently dedicated to children, and more than half of survivors experiencing long-term side effects from treatment, the campaign aims to drive awareness and support for change.
Kathryn Edwards, Kaiden’s mother, said:
“Seeing him walk out at the match will mean so much to us as a family, and we’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help shine a light on what children like Kaiden go through.
“No child should have to endure treatments designed for adults when there is the potential for kinder, more targeted options.
“Campaigns like this give families like ours hope that things can change for future children diagnosed with cancer.”
Sunday’s match brings together two clubs and two sets of supporters, united in raising awareness, supporting families and honouring the legacy of Bradley Lowery, who touched the hearts of Evertonians, Sunderland fans and the wider nation.
To learn more about and support the Bradley Lowery Foundation, please click here.
For more information on the ’Too Big’ campaign and to help fund vital childhood cancer research, click here.
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