Courtney Lawes has spent his spare time visiting Alfie at Queens Medical Centre, a six-year-old cancer patient. The visit wasn’t planned and the Saints flanker even left behind a signed shirt after spending 90 minutes at the hospital.
Courtney Lawes’ random act of kindness
In a month that has seen Premiership Rugby, led by Gloucester, promote the #BeKind campaign it’s great to see the human side of the athletes fans watch dominate the big screen.
Courtney Lawes’ 90 minutes with Alfie has made the ten weeks of intensive treatment seem all that little more worth it, as he discussed everything from rugby to dogs with the England international.
Adorning his black eye, Lawes proved that such injuries are small fry when it comes to what others have been dealt with in life. Alfie has tumours behind his left eye, the bottom of his skull and in his spine on top of huge one in his stomach area. A black eye seems rather trivial in comparison.
Highlighting the human side of sports players
Despite a trip that is 13-weeks and counting for Alfie the visit from Lawes has made him smile more than any time in his treatment and is proof that you can meet your heroes and leave happy.
Alfie is fighting hard and after a positive month of treatment he is on the rise. There are still three to four months left on his treatment cycle, but the memories of Lawes’ visit will undoubtedly last forever.
In a modern society where sports stars are often seen as higher individuals and above the crowds that follow them the gratitude felt by Alfie and his family will be felt for long after the visit. It also sits as a reminder that even the athletes you see on TV are there as genuine human beings.
In a post to Facebook after the visit Alfie’s father Steven said;
“The man is true gentleman. We haven’t seen Alfie smile so much in 10 weeks. Thank you to Northampton Saints for their continued support and of course Courtney lawes.”
Family time with Lawes
Northampton currently sit fourth in the Gallagher Premiership and take on fellow Prem rivals Exeter Chiefs in the quarter final of the Heineken Champions Cup.
“Main photo credit”
