Raheem Sterling Plans To Cover The Costs Of Damary Dawkins' Funeral

Posted Tuesday, April 23, 2019 by sportbible.com

Raheem Sterling has made a humbling move after it has been revealed that he plans to cover the costs for Damary Dawkins' funeral.

The Manchester City ace struck up a friendship with the Crystal Palace youth player, who suffered from leukaemia and whose family had received support from Sterling.

Unfortunately, the 13-year-old passed away last month (RIP, fella) and the 24-year-old English winger has said that he would be supporting his family once again by covering the costs of the funeral.

Sterling, who has been nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award this season, will be attending the service in Dagenham on Friday.

Damary's father, Tony, has opened up about the relationship that Damary and Sterling shared together.

"I knew that they used to speak because [Sterling] came down to the hospital, they played pool together and apparently they swapped numbers," he told the Press Association last month.

"I remember when Crystal Palace played Manchester City and they lost, Damary put on his tracksuit with the Crystal Palace badge and took a picture to send to Raheem. They had banter with each other.

"[The shirt tribute] was very, very touching and fitting. I know Damary touched his heart."

The ex-Liverpool star paid tribute to Damary last month in England's Euro 2020 qualifying match against the Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium, bagging himself a hat-trick and dedicating his second goal to the Palace youth player.

Following on from the match, Sterling talked about the significance of his tribute to Damary's family.

"Damary was a kid that I was trying to help and we thought that we found a donor," he told ITV.

"Sadly, it didn't match and he sadly passed away.

"I thought I had to do something to try to give his family something to smile about."

Take a bow, Sterling. You legend!