Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe will be guest of honour at the birthday party of Bradley Lowery - the young football fan who is battling a rare form of cancer.
Lowery's battle against neuroblastoma has touched the footballing world as he has appeared as mascot for both his beloved Sunderland and England.
Defoe has struck up a particularly close relationship with the five-year-old, and told CNN he has been invited to his upcoming birthday party.
"All I can do is try and spend as much time with him as possible and that's what I'm going to try and do from now until the end of the season, just try and see him when I can," Defoe said.
"He's got a birthday party soon, which I'll be going to with my girlfriend, so we're looking forward to that. But just to be around him, just to try and make him happy with however long he's got."
Doctors believe Lowery's cancer is terminal after a new form of treatment failed, with his family now focusing on creating as many memories as they can.
Source: PA
