Meet 9-year-old Harry!
Harry is obsessed with football. His favourite team is Manchester United, but he also loves going to watch his local teams New Mills and Stockport County. Pre-diagnosis, Harry played for New Mills juniors’ team.
In December 2022, Harry’s life fell apart. He was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma bone cancer in his right leg. He knew he probably wouldn’t be able to play football for a couple of years, but he kept going knowing he would one day be back sporting his beloved New Mills kit. He has had a really tough year, but never once has he given up on this dream of playing football again.
Harry endured 30 rounds of chemotherapy, followed by an operation to send off a sample for a biopsy. On return, the news came back that the chemotherapy had not worked. Harry’s only option for survival was amputation, news which was devastating to his family. In September this year, just 5 days before his 9th birthday, he had his operation.
Harry’s VIP Experience
Less than one month after his amputation, Harry and his mum Rebecca found themselves in an executive box inside Old Trafford to watch his favourite team take on Galatasaray. In the box they were surprised by Fred the Red, ex-player Ashley Grimes with his National Cap and FA Cup winners medal for Harry to try on, and they even had a private session with a magician.
“The Barrie Wells Trust Box4Kids got in contact with me asking if Harry would like to go to Manchester United and not only that, but that he would be sat in a box. It was like all his Christmases and birthdays had come at once when I told him. He loved every single minute of the experience; he said he was treated like a king. We cannot thank you all enough for the memories he made during his night at Old Trafford,” Mum Rebecca said about their experience. Following the event, Harry went around telling everyone he saw about going to Old Trafford.
“He keeps saying to me it was the best night of his life.”
It is due to the generosity of box donors that we can help create such special memories for deserving children like Harry. Not only does being in an executive box provide children with a VIP experience, but it is also a safe and secure environment for children unable to watch events from standard seating. If you have an executive box and would like to donate it to our Box4Kids initiative, please do get in touch.
