ON May 11, the Swansea.com Stadium will resound with cheers and emotions as Wales vs England Legends take to the field for a charity match celebrating the heroic legacies of Joseph Yeandle and Bradley Lowery.
This memorial event, organised by the families of these brave boys and founders of their legacy charities—Joseph’s Smile and The Bradley Lowery Foundation—aims to commemorate the lives of Joseph and Bradley, who bravely battled neuroblastoma. Unfortunately, this disease claimed their lives in December 2021 and July 2017 respectively, leaving an indelible mark in the hearts of tens of thousands worldwide.
Katy Yeandle from Brynamman, Joseph’s mother, reflected, “I don’t regret doing all that I could to get Joseph to New York, because I had to do everything in my power to save him, but I do regret the time I lost with him due to the fundraising efforts. I will never get that time back, but I hope my efforts in Joseph’s memory will give that precious time back to other families like ours.”
Joseph’s Smile and The Bradley Lowery Foundation strive to support families facing similar battles, providing assistance for treatments that may otherwise be inaccessible, and alleviating their burdens during difficult times. No family should endure the ordeal of fundraising to save their child’s life.
The charity football game promises to be momentous with legends from various fields such as sports, music, and television gracing the event, including Chris Coleman, Ashley Williams, Sol Campbell, Shane Williams, Mike Tindall, Jermain Defoe, Roman Kemp, and a performance from Welsh singing legend, Dafydd Iwan.
A celebration of life applause is scheduled, paying tribute to all children gone too soon. This applause will follow singer-songwriter and ex-West End star, Steve Balsamo, as he serenades the crowd with a specially written song, “Never Alone” (a song for Joseph), co-written by him and Tim Hamill in loving memory of Joseph.
This family-oriented event not only aims to raise awareness and vital funds for children battling cancer but also seeks to create enduring memories for families supported by the charities. With children who benefit from Joseph’s Smile acting as mascots on the day, the event hopes to provide a special and memorable outing for them.
Anticipation is building for this weekend’s event in Swansea. However, the true stars of the day will be young Joseph and Bradley, and their incredible legacies.
For more event details, visit the Joseph’s Smile website and social media pages.
