Shrewsbury schoolboy joins England stars on Wembley pitch
It is every boys fiercest wish - to lead their favourite football team out on to the pitch ahead of an important match - and for little Lloyd Burton, from Shrewsbury, it was a dream come true.
But Lloyd is not just any little boy, and it was not just any normal match.
Instead the Shrewsbury schoolboy, who was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer in 2013, went on to the pitch at Wembley Stadium as England played their last home match against Peru before they headed off to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
He accompanied the team onto the hallowed turf with England goalscorer Daniel Sturridge before the match, which saw England cruise to a 3-0 win. The match gave the home crowd the chance to cheer on the Three Lions before they head to the show-piece tournament which kicks off on June 12.
Lloyd, who is a year five pupil at Meole Brace Juniors, said: "I was astonished by the atmosphere when I came out of the tunnel, I looked around and thought it was amazing. It was such a brilliant day."
The 10-year-old was selected to be a player escort following a fundraising auction held in March this year by Ronald McDonald House Charities - the independent charity that provides free 'home away from home' accommodation to families who have children in hospital.
The place at the match was won by Grant Read, national operations director for McDonald's, who donated the prize to Lloyd.
Lloyd's family stayed at Ronald McDonald House Birmingham for several weeks while Lloyd was in Birmingham Children's Hospital being treated for medulloblastoma – a rare brain tumour.
The Birmingham House is one of 14 Ronald McDonald Houses across the UK, all close to children's hospitals or wards. Fundraising, donations, volunteering and awareness have raised thousands of pounds and Ronald McDonald House Charities has helped more than 7,000 families in 2013.
McDonald's and The FA have been Community Partners since 2002 and have worked together to help young footballers shine by creating more opportunities for children to get involved in the game.
The partnership is also working towards the objective of helping 75per cent of all youth clubs achieve FA Charter Standard status before the end of 2014, which ensures grassroots clubs are safe, supportive and fun places for young people to enjoy playing football.
One of the areas of the programme gives young people the chance to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience of accompanying their football heroes onto the pitch as a McDonald's Player Escort. In Brazil, McDonald's is the official Player Escort provider for the tournament, with children around the world getting the chance to experience the thrill of the FIFA World Cup.
