Dunstable schoolboy receives message from Manchester United's Jesse Lingard

A Premier League footballer sent a video message to a Dunstable schoolboy who is having crucial medial treatment in Manchester.

Ten-year-old Alfie Hardiman, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2018 and had to undergo two lots of surgery at the brain specialist hospital, Addenbrookes, to reduce the tumour after the original tumour grew back.

The tumour was benign, and since the surgery, he has been on hormone treatment as his illness has impacted his natural growth, and now he has to undergo six weeks of intensive Proton Beam radiotherapy treatment at Christie Hospital in Manchester.

Proton beam therapy is a type of radiotherapy that uses a beam of high energy protons, which are small parts of atoms, and the therapy enables a dose of treatment to be precisely targeted at a tumour, reducing the damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

The fanatical Man United supported had hoped to visit Old Trafford for a match while he was in the north west, but all games have been postponed - due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Having heard his story, the Manchester United star sent Alfie a video message, he said: "Hi Alfie, Jesse here, I just want to say a quick message to say you're so strong and you're so brave and I'll know you'll get through this. I know it's a hard time but your family's here to support you, we're all here to support you and I know you'll get through it. And once you do, maybe we can meet up, well hopefully we can we meet up. But for now stay strong and stay brave, lots of love Jesse."

He asked Alfie to send him one back which he did thanking him for the message.

In the video, Alfie said: "Hiya Jesse, thank you so much for sending me the video, my treatment is going perfectly fine so far, it's my eighth treatment. I'm hoping to see you some time after this virus, and maybe play some footy. When my mum showed me the video, I was in so much shock and I didn't know what to say at first I'm hoping to see you and the rest of United playing again soon. I really appreciate you sending me that video."

Alfie was chuffed to bits with the message, and stunned with the surprise.

Alfie's Mum Carolyne, who will be taking unpaid leave as a studio manager to care for Alfie in Manchester days says that despite his illness, Alfie has maintained his cheeky chappie persona and his love of life and his passion for The Red Devils.

She said: "He's been fantastic and I'm very proud of him. He's very ill and it's been a real roller-coaster of emotions for two years.

"But we will remain strong and positive and Alfie is leading us all from the front.

"We have had fantastic support from family and friends and we can't thank them enough."

A Go Fund Me page has been set up by a close friend, Daniel Coffey, to help support the family's living expenses during their stay in Manchester

Daniel said: "The NHS and The Christie Hospital staff have been superb and Alfie will receive the best care and attention.

"But the family have additional living expenses to find during their six weeks in Manchester as well as fixed costs still to cover at home and with Carolyne having to take unpaid leave, she needs a financial helping hand at this vital time.

"We're just trying to take away one bit of stress and every little helps and I was happy to help with the Go Fund Me page."

To make a donation visit: www.gofundme.com/f/1wt8hjtd5c.

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