Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
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- 33,258
WHEN Broncos forward Josh McGuire broke his two-year try-scoring drought on Thursday night, he turned to the camera to point to the name scrawled across his wrist tape — “Coops”.
This was no normal try celebration for McGuire. It was a dedication to a young boy who lost his brave and hard-fought battle with neuroblastoma and leukaemia on Monday.
Two-year-old Cooper Brown met McGuire just four days before he passed away but that’s how quickly the boy with the infectious smile left an impact on the Brisbane enforcer.
When his parents, Cameron and Cerise, discovered their son’s cancer was terminal, they wanted to do as much as possible for him.
That included taking him to Broncos training last Friday week to meet the team and the pair marrying on Sunday before he passed away the following day.
McGuire, who has one of the toughest on-field personas in the game, said he felt an instant connection with Cooper when they met. A father of two, McGuire says he will not be forgetting Cooper any time soon.
“He touched me very deeply,” McGuire said.
“I don’t know what it was. There was just something about the little fella. There was an instant connection.
“On Monday he grew his wings. His pain is over but it’s something that has rattled me quite a lot this week.
“Having a little boy myself (one-year-old Maxon), it was something hard to deal with. He’s a special guy and they’re a great family. I was happy to share that time with him.”
The Queensland star also went to the Brown wedding last week and has donated his Origin jerseys to raise money for the family.
McGuire was introduced to the family by Maria Dalto, a long-time Broncos fan who used her friendship with former player and Men of League welfare manager Ben Ross to strike up the meeting.
Through the efforts of Dalto, McGuire and the Broncos, almost $12,000 has been raised for the family with more to come.
Cooper’s dad Cameron Brown said the support has meant so much to him and Cerise, who want their son to be remembered as a fighter.
“He never gave up,” Brown said.
“He always had a smile regardless of the struggles he was going through.
“We just don’t want anyone to take life for granted as you never know what tomorrow will bring … It means so much that Josh is paying tribute to Coops.”
McGuire plans to continue paying tribute to Cooper for the remainder of the year.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...e/news-story/86049f44dc33439b914ececb98495f6c
This was no normal try celebration for McGuire. It was a dedication to a young boy who lost his brave and hard-fought battle with neuroblastoma and leukaemia on Monday.
Two-year-old Cooper Brown met McGuire just four days before he passed away but that’s how quickly the boy with the infectious smile left an impact on the Brisbane enforcer.
When his parents, Cameron and Cerise, discovered their son’s cancer was terminal, they wanted to do as much as possible for him.
That included taking him to Broncos training last Friday week to meet the team and the pair marrying on Sunday before he passed away the following day.
McGuire, who has one of the toughest on-field personas in the game, said he felt an instant connection with Cooper when they met. A father of two, McGuire says he will not be forgetting Cooper any time soon.
“He touched me very deeply,” McGuire said.
“I don’t know what it was. There was just something about the little fella. There was an instant connection.
“On Monday he grew his wings. His pain is over but it’s something that has rattled me quite a lot this week.
“Having a little boy myself (one-year-old Maxon), it was something hard to deal with. He’s a special guy and they’re a great family. I was happy to share that time with him.”
The Queensland star also went to the Brown wedding last week and has donated his Origin jerseys to raise money for the family.
McGuire was introduced to the family by Maria Dalto, a long-time Broncos fan who used her friendship with former player and Men of League welfare manager Ben Ross to strike up the meeting.
Through the efforts of Dalto, McGuire and the Broncos, almost $12,000 has been raised for the family with more to come.
Cooper’s dad Cameron Brown said the support has meant so much to him and Cerise, who want their son to be remembered as a fighter.
“He never gave up,” Brown said.
“He always had a smile regardless of the struggles he was going through.
“We just don’t want anyone to take life for granted as you never know what tomorrow will bring … It means so much that Josh is paying tribute to Coops.”
McGuire plans to continue paying tribute to Cooper for the remainder of the year.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...e/news-story/86049f44dc33439b914ececb98495f6c
