Jermain Defoe has marked the anniversary of Bradley Lowery's death with a moving post on Twitter
Bradley passed away on July 7 of last year at the age of six. He had been diagnosed with neuroblastoma - a rare type of cancer - when he was just 18 months old.
An avid supporter of Sunderland, Bradley struck up a close friendship with Defoe during his time at the club, the striker visiting him on several occasions during his treatment in hospital. Bradley also acted as mascot for both Sunderland and England, accompanying Defoe on to the pitch each time.
Sharing several pictures of himself with Bradley, Defoe tweeted that their friendship had 'changed his life'.
'Today I want everyone to think about Brads, that beautiful smile that could light up any room, that amazing character and how loving he was,' Defoe's post reads.
'I miss you little man, but I still feel you waking with me in spirit every single day... You changed my life and many others and I'll never forget what you did for me.
'You are an inspiration and your legacy will last longer than us all. I know you're smiling down on us all and I love you so much.'
https://twitter.com/IAmJermainDefoe/status/1015526206639366149
Defoe's post followed a tweet from England's official Twitter account ahead of the World Cup quarter-final with Sweden. Replying to a tweet from the Bradley Lowery Foundation, it promised that Bradley would be in the thoughts of the England team.
https://twitter.com/England/status/1015494029000237061?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1015494029000237061&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sunderlandecho.com%2Fnews%2Fone-year-on-your-tributes-to-brave-bradley-lowery-on-anniversary-of-tragic-death-1-9240221
