Young Leicester City fan loses cancer battle

The story

Leicester City fans are planning to fill the King Power Stadium with rapturous applause for an inspirational young supporter who recently lost his battle with cancer.

Shay Bryan passed away on October 18 aged just 16 and now the Foxes faithful are arranging to erupt in the 16th minute of Sunday’s 4pm game against Everton in his memory.

The youngster who lived in New Parks, Leicester, had a fourth stage Wilms tumour which grew into his spine, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, spleen and eventually his brain.

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How I got the story

A young Leicester City fan passed away after a battle with terminal cancer, at the age of 16.

Friends decided to arrange a tribute to him at Leicester’s King Power stadium, in the next home match after his passing. They wanted to have people applaud in the 16th minute.

I saw this campaign on social media and contacted a friend of Shay’s, who then put me in contact with the family.

I wrote a story about Shay, speaking to his mum and dad about their experience, and promoting the planned clapping for him.

On the day, applause did fill the entire stadium.

I contacted the family to ask how they felt at that moment for a second piece and was also invited to write about Shay’s funeral, where a huge number of blue balloons were set off for him.

Each of these pieces required tact and sensitivity to handle. I felt they were important stories to tell, and the family was happy to see how well thought of Shay was.

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