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Why the response to this letter made one footballer a hero for life

Why the response to this letter made one footballer a hero for life


When Harry Jacobs wrote a speculative letter to Swansea City's Jonjo Shelvey in the hope that the footballer might visit his school he probably wasn't expecting too much of a response.

Like the former Charlton midfielder, young Harry has Alopecia Totallis, a condition that means the pair both lost their hair at an early age.

Harry has developed Alopecia really rapidly. He is a mad footy fan and has got some comfort from the fact that you are a Premiership footballer who he can look up to and see that he can still achieve incredible things.

I would really appreciate if you could write back to him. He is going through a really tough time at the moment and it would be a real boost for him to have a response from you.

  • Harry's mother, Nic, in a letter to Shelvey

But instead of making a visit to the eight-year-old's school in north London or palming him off with an autograph in the post, Shelvey invited Harry, and his parents, to a VIP trip to see Swansea's Premier League match against Southampton - putting them up in a hotel and making Harry an official mascot for the day.

To top things off, he even managed to beat Cybil the Swan in a half-time penalty shoot out! Harry, that is, not Jonjo.

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