Football legends fulfill Leicester lad Shivam’s dream

A dream came true for a young Leicestershire man with a life-limiting condition when he met two of his all-time sporting heroes – thanks to Rainbows hospice and Superstar Speakers.

Shivam Nathwani, (19) of Birstall, is pictured with former Manchester United footballing legends Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke at an event at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.

The evening, part of the ‘Treble Winners Tour’, featured Yorke and Cole, who were with the Manchester United team which won the Premier League title, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League during the 1998/99 season.

Brother Pritesh commented: “Shivam is football mad and to meet and chat with legends like Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke was a dream come true. He had an evening to remember and treasures the football shirt they signed for him.”

Shivam has a condition called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and requires a tracheostomy to help him breathe. His life has been an endless treadmill of operations, physiotherapy and medication. He almost lost his life twice on the operating table and has been confined to a wheelchair since he was 10-years-old, says his family, which is supported by Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People.

Superstar Speakers is working in partnership with the charity to offer a series of VIP evenings at which Manchester United legends Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Denis Irwin, and Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher will appear ‘in conversation’.

The second event, ‘A VIP Evening With Carragher’ takes place at Nottingham’s Alea Casino on Thursday (8 March) and promises an entertaining evening of anecdotes and conversation with the Liverpool hero and Sky Sports pundit. And a further date, featuring charismatic former Red Devils striker and French international Eric Cantona has been added later this year at the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall.

Laura Hemmings from Superstar Speakers, said: “These events are a must for any lover of football – these guys are legends of the game – and we are delighted that these exclusive evenings will also feature fundraising for Rainbows, such an amazing charity supporting youngsters with short lives and their families.”

The celebrity events company said it hoped the evenings would raise a ‘significant’ sum for the Loughborough-based hospice. There will also be an opportunity for families supported by Rainbows to meet the iconic footballers.

Rainbows spokesman, Nishil Saujani, added: “We are so grateful to our friends at Superstar Speakers for their generosity. We know the footballing heroes involved in the events will draw major interest and help raise vital funds for the hospice.”

Tickets for the forthcoming events are available online at www.superstarspeakers.co.uk