Life is precious. Live it to the fullest, because you never know which second is going to be your last. No matter what happens in your life, always face it with a smile.
Bradley Lowery battled to the very end with a smile across his face and that gave us continued hope, but on Friday 7 July, a brave 6-year-old lad from Blackhall Colliery, near Hartlepool, broke the heart of a nation.
Hundreds of thousands rallied together to help him and his family battle this debilitating disease, but Bradley's incredible journey sadly ended today.
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Despite the sadness we are all feeling at this very moment, we must remember that Bradley's legacy will live on forever. Throughout all of the difficult times in his short life, he managed to touch the hearts of millions around him with incredible warmth, energy and bravery.
Neuroblastoma spread to his chest, lungs, lymph nodes, bone and bone marrow, but little Bradley's heart was still pure.
Image: PA
Bradley may have only been with us for six short years, but he made sure that his time on this earth was precious
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From walking hand in hand with best mate Jermain Defoe at Wembley Stadium to having a horse named after him at the Grand National, the youngster experienced the best of what life has to offer and it all started on a Monday night in the North East.
The world was introduced to Bradley back in September last year.
He proudly led the Sunderland team out for a Premier League game against Everton and was warmly welcomed by the fans. His beaming smile was shared across the country.
Image: PA
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Bradley had come along way in a short space of time. Bradley was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2013 and after two-years of chemotherapy, he was effectively free of cancer and, for 18 months, was a "normal boy enjoying his life".
But three months prior to his guest of honour appearance at the Stadium of Light, Bradley's neuroblastoma returned.
He continued to fight the disease with incredible bravery. Bradley's message was spread across social media that night, and fittingly, he and his family's life changed.
After the Sunderland game, the family raised in excess of the £700,000 needed for Bradley to have antibody treatment in New York.
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The reaction to Bradley's appearance that night touched the nation and after the match, it was announced Everton had given £200,000 towards life-saving treatment in America to fight against cancer.
The 'Bradley Lowery Foundation' continued to receive huge support from well-wishers across the globe and last Christmas, an amazing act of kindness brought a tear to my eye.
250,000 well-wishers sent Christmas cards to his home in Blackhall Colliery, near Hartlepool.
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Inspired by the youngster's courage, this world gave Bradley the best christmas he could ever have wished for.
His last wish was to receive as many Christmas cards as possible and in the lead-up to Christmas day, he received a total of 250,000. An incredible response for a remarkable little man.
At the end of 2016, Andy Murray may have won the Sports Personality of the Year award but Bradley was the real star of the show.
Looking suave in his suit and bow tie, the youngster's smile lit up the red carpet on a cold day in Birmingham.
It was a difficult year for Lowery and his family, but all of these experiences - including a goal against Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic in front of his adoring fans - gave us all hope.
And just two days into 2017, Bradley won the Match of the Day goal of the month competition for that penalty against Chelsea at the Stadium of Light.
In the coming months, Bradley's friendship with Jermain Defoe became stronger and stronger.
The former Sunderland striker made an appearance at the youngster's fairytale birthday party in May, along with goalkeeper Vito Mannone.
His 6th birthday included a marquee, jugglers, rides, stilt walkers and candy floss at Blackhall Cricket Club, near Durham, but the appearance of his best mate Jermain produced the biggest smile of the afternoon.
Bradley's mum Gemma expressed her gratitude towards the England international:
"We are very grateful for Jermain to have taken Bradley in his heart.
"So Jermain's obviously now a friend of the family rather than Bradley's idol - although he is still Bradley's idol - and he makes Bradley happy and he makes Bradley smile, and it's just lovely to see him with him."
From proudly clasping Bradley's hand as he walked out at Wembley before England's win over Lithuania to visiting the youngster in hospital on a regular basis, Defoe has struck up a special bond with Lowery.
After months of battling with Neuroblastoma, Bradley's precious time on this earth has sadly come to an end.
We will never forget the remarkable six year old lad from Blackhall Colliery, near Hartlepool who bravely battled such a horrible disease. Bradley won the hearts of a nation with that beaming smile and heart of gold.
Gone but never forgotten.
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