Bradley Lowery holiday home finally opens doors
BBCA seaside holiday home for seriously ill children created in memory of Bradley Lowery has opened after years of delays.
Sunderland fan Bradley, from Blackhall Colliery, in County Durham, was six when he died from a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma in 2017.
The five-bedroom house in Scarborough will host up to 100 families each year and has been designed to give children with complex medical needs and disabilities the chance to enjoy a holiday with their loved ones.
Plans for the £1.2m house, named Super Brad's Pad, were approved in 2019 and it was officially opened on Tuesday by former Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe, who forged a close friendship with Bradley during his illness.
Defoe donated £70,000 to the Bradley Lowery Foundation to support the development of the house.
Land for the building was originally gifted to the Bradley Lowery Foundation by Scarborough Borough Council in 2019 and was once part of the Scalby Manor Estate.
According to the charity, fundraising was paused due to Covid-19 restrictions and the holiday build was put on hold.
In 2021, restrictions were lifted and the foundation aimed for an autumn 2026 completion.
Bradley's mother Gemma Lowery said a series of setbacks had delayed the project meaning the foundation had to continue raising money for longer than expected.
"We were just about to start the build and Covid happened," she said. "Then the cost of labour and materials quadrupled, it was crazy the amount that went up.
"We had the money fundraised to the point where it was enough, but then when the cost went up we didn't so we had to continue fundraising."
She said the "incredibly emotional" opening marked the culmination of years of fundraising and hard work to create a lasting legacy for her son.
"There have been challenges along the way, but knowing what this home will mean to so many children and their families makes every moment worthwhile," she said.
"We can't change what these families are going through, but we can give them somewhere to step away from it for a little while, be together and make memories that will last a lifetime."
Lowery told the BBC: "Bradley always loved looking after people and if he knew that he was still looking after people now, he would be really happy.
"My little boy made such an impression on the world and to be able to continue that as his mam, in his name, is a very honourable moment."
Super Brad's Pad includes a gym and sauna, along with a large family room and kitchen, game rooms, summer room and barbecue terrace.