please log in to view this image WHEN Louis Hare's dad died after suffering a heart attack while out cycling, the ten-year-old was devastated. The pair would do everything together, including going to see their beloved Hull City. So it was a fitting treat for Louis when he met his footballing heroes at the club's training ground in Cottingham. Louis was selected for the Hull Children's University's Charlie's Surprise Surprise programme after being nominated by staff at St Mary Queen of Martyrs Primary in Sutton Park. The scheme rewards children who have been through difficult times in their lives. "I think it's amazing," said Louis, now 11. "I didn't really believe it when they told me." After his dad Neil, a paramedic, died in July last year at the age of 52, Louis only missed two days of school. "It means so much that the school put him forward for it," said mum Helen, 37. "After everything we've been through I think it was the best thing Louis could have received." As well as spending a morning kicking about with the stars, Louis walked away with a signed football shirt, boots signed by Sone Aluko, an alarm clock, a clacker and tickets for an away match. Mrs Hare said her husband's death had devastated their family including Louis and his sister Chloe, 14. "He was Louis' best friend," she said. "They went everywhere together." She said Mr Hare's death had been completely unexpected. "He was extremely fit," she said. "I had come home and his colleagues came and they told me he had had a heart attack. He had been out cycling with them. "He was an amazing man. "He was an extremely well-liked person, hundreds and hundreds of people came to the funeral." Mrs Hare said the visit to the training ground was a fitting surprise for Louis. "Neil always had been a loyal supporter of Hull City," she said. "He didn't have a season pass, but the whole family have, and Neil worked most of the matches as a paramedic. "While he was working, he'd be on the sidelines but would always make sure the kids could see him and wave to him." Hull Children's University's charity director, Natasha Banke, said: "I just want to say a huge thank you to the football club and to the manager for having us in and making Charlie's Surprise Surprise. It's amazing and we really are so grateful. "For you to take the time to spend the morning with Louis and watch you train and to want to help families is amazing." Cause close to the club James Mooney, Hull City's head of marketing and communications, said they had agreed to take part in Charlie's Surprise Surprise because of club owner Assem Allam's dedication to the charity. He said: "Mr Allam is a long-term supporter of Hull Children's University and I knew he would want us to support them and the great work they do when we can. "So when we heard about Louis and his family's circumstances, we wanted to do something to make him feel special, so asked him and his mum and sister to come and spend the morning with us." http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull...tory-28688420-detail/story.html#ixzz3zaOB9IMV
His dad was a really nice man! I remember talking to him about him being a paramedic and he said you can't beat the buzz you get from saving someone's life! Such a shame he couldn't be saved! RIP Neil
I'd like football clubs to more of this kind of thing. It doesn't take much of an effort and must mean quite a lot to these kids. Good work City
