Brazilian top-flight club wear name of English fan with MND on shirts
Brazilian top flight club Coritiba wear the name of an English fan from Norwich on their shirts to raise awareness of motor neurone disease.
When Brazilian club Coritiba took to the field for their league match against Chapecoense, their jerseys bore an unusual honor. Instead of the customary sponsor logo, the front of each shirt displayed the name of an English fan battling motor neurone disease, Jonny Butcher. The 29-year-old from Norwich was diagnosed with ALS, a form of motor neurone disease, in February.
Motor neurone disease is an incurable condition that affects parts of the nervous system, leading to weakened and wasting away of muscles. Butcher, a lifelong Norwich City fan, met his Brazilian wife Ana Clara through a Christian dating app and fell in love with the city. In a remarkable coincidence, the two clubs had a strategic partnership in 2022.
After Butcher's diagnosis, the couple added attending a Coritiba match to his bucket list. Despite his worsening health, Coritiba honored Butcher before their Serie A win against Chapecoense. The players' shirts read "Your strength inspires us. We stand as one," with a sunflower symbolizing awareness for non-visible disabilities.
During the Brazilian national anthem, the players posed with a banner bearing Butcher's name and signatures from Coritiba fans and staff. Ana Clara expressed her emotional response to seeing Butcher's name prominently displayed among thousands of supporters. Coritiba plans to send some of the shirts to Butcher's family and an institution assisting rare disease patients.
Jonny hopes he can personally express his gratitude to everyone involved. Despite the challenges, the family's story is one of enduring love and kindness.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport Football's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
