A charity fundraiser set up by Sheffield Wednesday fans in memory of Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery has raised more than £6,000.
The fundraiser was set up after two Sheffield Wednesday fans, brothers Dale and Drew Houghton, appeared to mock Lowery, who died at the age of six in 2017 due to a rare cancer.
Two men, aged 31 and 27, are being held on suspicion of outraging public decency over an incident that occurred at Sheffield Wednesday’s match against Sunderland.
During Sunderland’s 3-0 win over Wednesday the brothers were seen laughing as one of them held up a phone displaying zoomed-in picture of Lowery. It is unclear whether the two men arrested are the Houghton brothers.
As reported by BBC Sport, a GoFundMe page set up by the Sheffield Wednesday Women’s Supporters’ Group has been inundated with donations from Wednesday fans.
A charity fundraiser set up by Sheffield Wednesday fans in memory of Bradley Lowery has raised more than £6,000.
Two Sheffield Wednesday fans were seen appearing to cruelly mock late Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery
In a Facebook post, Bradley’s mother Gemma said: ‘What ever happened to cancer has no colours, let alone respect for a family that lost their baby to cancer’
The money is being given to the Bradley Lowery Foundation, who said it would be put towards the charity’s holiday home in Scarborough.
The post said: ‘We are honestly so overwhelmed. We are so thankful to SWFC and all of the fans for showing your support.
‘We know the views of a couple are not the views of the majority, and will forever be grateful for this gesture, which will be put towards our holiday home in Scarborough.’
Lowery was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer, when he was 18 months old.
Lowery’s mother Gemma criticised the ‘low life’ brothers who appeared to mock her son’s death.
In a Facebook post, Bradley’s mother Gemma said: ‘This is so hard for me to see,’ and added: ‘What ever happened to cancer has no colours, let alone respect for a family that lost their baby to cancer.’
Gemma later thanked the football community for their support and said ‘understandably people are angry, if I wasn’t so upset I’d be angry to’, but she added that fans should let the police ‘deal with the low lives’.
Lowery’s story touched many hearts across the world – during his brave battle he was even a special guest of BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year in 2016.
Bradley Lowery’s heartbroken mother Gemma (pictured) said ‘this is so hard for me to see’ after football fans were spotted laughing and appearing to mock her six-year-old son’s death, as police launch investigation
Lowery was awarded MOTD goal of the month for his effort against Chelsea in December 2016
Lowery was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer, when he was 18 months old
The child’s strong ties to his club – as well as close and enduring friendship with then-Sunderland player Jermain Defoe – saw him take to the pitch as a mascot, as well as win Match of the Day’s goal of the month in 2016.
Defoe has previously spoken about how Lowery has left an everlasting spark in his life, adding: ‘There’s not a day that goes past where I don’t think about him.’
‘He will always be in my heart, for the rest of my life,’ he said on the ‘Jermain Defoe: Outside The Box’ podcast.