Bradley Lowery's mum has released a heartbreaking statement after a Coventry fan appeared to use his photograph to taunt Sunderland supporters.
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fan → release → supporters
The deplorable behaviour came during the Premier League clash between the two sides on Saturday, which the Sky Blues won 3-1.
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Blues → come → which
A video on social media showed a supporter holding up a picture of Bradley - who tragically died from a rare form of childhood cancer at the age of six in 2017 - smiling in the direction of Sunderland fans, with the individual pointing at it and seen smirking at the same time.
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individual → show → time
A 14-year-old boy 'handed himself in' to West Midlands Police on Sunday.
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boy → hand → Sunday
In a statement on Sunday morning after the behaviour of the Coventry fan went viral, Bradley's mum Gemma shared a heartbreaking message.
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mum → go → message
'My beautiful boy deserves to be remembered with love, not hate,' she wrote.
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she → deserve → love
'Yesterday, a Coventry fan used a photograph of Bradley to taunt Sunderland supporters.
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fan → use → supporters
As Bradley’s mam, this is heartbreaking, especially as it’s one of my favourite photographs of him.
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it → ’ → him
A Coventry fan appeared to use a photograph of Bradley Lowery to taunt Sunderland fans
A fan held up a photo of Bradley, the Sunderland fan who tragically passed away aged six from a rare form of childhood cancer, and was seen smirking and pointing
'I remember that day like it was yesterday.
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it → appear → day
He was so happy, having so much fun.
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He → have → fun
So much of Bradley’s short life was spent battling cancer and enduring treatments no child should ever face.
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child → spend → treatments
To see such a beautiful memory used in such a cruel way really does make my heart hurt.
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heart → see → way
We are a football-loving family who follow Sunderland home and away.
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who → love → Sunderland
I’m all for football banter, but surely mocking a child who died from cancer is not banter?
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who → ’m → cancer
I hope the club takes appropriate action and the young lad’s family help him understand how hurtful his actions were.
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actions → hope → action
'I don’t want hatred directed towards him, so please please don't, just for him to learn from this.
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him → want → this
Behind that photograph is a little boy who was loved beyond measure and a family who miss him every day.
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who → love → him
Thank you to everyone who has defended Bradley and shown us so much love.
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who → thank → love
It means more than you know.
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you → mean → more
Gemma continued: 'What some people don’t realise is that Bradley’s story didn’t end when his life did.
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life → continue → What
Because of Bradley, children’s lives are being saved, hundreds of families have received vital support, and children facing unimaginable battles are being given hope.
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children → save → hope
Through Super Brad’s Pad, families can escape hospital life, spend precious time together and make memories that last forever.
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that → escape → memories
The difference my little boy continues to make in this world.
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boy → continue → world
No amount of cruelty will ever take that away.
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amount → take → that
So rather than let this photograph be remembered for hatred, I want it remembered for what it truly represents.
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it → let → what
That is how I want the world to remember him.
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world → want → him
Bradley touched the hearts of football fans across the UK during his battle with neuroblastoma, and formed a touching relationship with then Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe
Confirming that a teenager had handed himself in to authorities on Sunday, West Midlands Police said in a statement: 'We are aware of a video circulating on social media showing an incident at Coventry City's Premier League match with Sunderland.
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We → touch → Sunderland
A thorough investigation has been launched, and a 14-year-old boy has since handed himself in and will be spoken with in due course.
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boy → launch → course
We understand the upset and outrage this video has caused in the community and to the victim's family, and our officers are keeping them up to date with the progress of our investigation and working closely alongside both football clubs.'
Coventry condemned the shameful behaviour in a strongly-worded statement on Saturday.
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Coventry → understand → Saturday
It read: 'Coventry City FC is aware of footage circulating on social media in connection with an incident during our Premier League fixture against Sunderland.
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FC → read → Sunderland
The club does not tolerate offensive behaviour and will liaise with the relevant authorities to determine the appropriate course of action.'
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club → tolerate → action
Since Saturday's clash, more than £1,000 has been donated to the The Bradley Lowery Foundation by Coventry City fans, with many supporters leaving heartfelt messages as they refused to let the actions of one person define them.
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actions → donate → them
Bradley was previously used by a fan as a taunt back in 2023 when Sheffield Wednesday supporter Dale Houghton was seen holding up a picture of him at a match against Sunderland and laughing.
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Houghton → use → Sunderland
Houghton was subsequently handed a 12-week suspended prison sentence and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work.
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Houghton → hand → work
Bradley pictured with his mum Gemma at his sixth birthday party back in May 2017
Bradley touched the hearts of football fans across the UK during his battle with neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer, before he tragically passed away aged just six in 2017.
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he → picture → 2017
The Bradley Lowery Foundation was set up in his honour, with the charity aiming to help families who are fundraising for treatment or equipment that is not readily available or covered by the NHS, while it also supports research into various childhood cancers, including neuroblastoma.
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it → set → neuroblastoma
Bradley, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was just 18 months old, also built up a touching relationship with Jermain Defoe, who later called him his 'best mate'.
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who → diagnose → him
Defoe played for Sunderland at the time, and speaking in 2023, he said: 'He will always be in my heart, for the rest of my life.
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He → play → life
There's not a day that goes past where I don't wake up and think about little Bradley, because his love is genuine.'
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love → be → Bradley
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