Telford teenager Brandon’s Manchester United Muscle Dream surprise!

Posted on November 9th, 2015

Imagine thinking that you’re on your way in the car with your mum for yet another hospital visit some two hours away from your home! Instead you find yourself driving through the high security entrance of a state-of-the-art facility designed for the football team that you love and support! Surprise!

Well that’s exactly what happened for 16yr-old Brandon Leneveu on Monday 21st September 2015 when his mum parked up at the Aon Training Complex where the Manchester United players keep in top physical shape.

Whilst demand for the Manchester United Foundation Dream Day programmes are extremely high but with a little patience, wonderful things happen to those who least expect it and for Brandon (pictured below with his mum Amanda) not only did he meet all the players but also the team’s manager Louis van Gaal.

Studying computer and game design at Telford College of Art, Brandon has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). His Muscle Dream nomination was originally made by his aunt Becky Kinsey on 20thy January 2013 which simply said: “to meet the Manchester United team, it would mean the world to him. My nephew (Brandon) is such a brave boy. Two years ago he had a major back operation; please make his Muscle Dream a reality. Thank you.”

Pictured above: the Aon Training Complex

Brandon is a massive Manchester United fan but back in 2012 he had major surgery at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Since the age of four, Brandon has regularly attended Hope House Children’s Hospice near Oswestry who provide specialist nursing care, respite and support to life-limited children, young people and young adults from Shropshire, Cheshire, North and Mid Wales.

Over several years, the Muscle Help Foundation (MHF) has built relationships with many hospices across the country, personally visited by MHF’s CEO Michael McGrath. The aim of these visits has been to learn more about their vital work but also introduce the charity and its Muscle Dream activities. Three years ago, Michael met Andy Goldsmith (CEO) and David Riffel (Hospice Coordinator); since then, Hope House now share news updates and information on their website about for example MHF’s upcoming signature Muscle Dream programmes.

Providing unrivalled news and sport coverage for Shropshire and Mid Wales, The Shropshire Star picked-up on Brandon’s Muscle Dream experience which also saw his entire family including his auntie enjoy a special dinner hosted by Michael McGrath and his wife at the Holiday Inn Telford (Ironbridge).

Pictured below: Brandon with his mum Amanda and Manchester United first team player (midfielder) Ashley Young.

Providing unrivalled news and sport coverage for Shropshire and Mid Wales, The Shropshire Star picked-up on Brandon’s Muscle Dream experience which also saw the entire family including his auntie enjoy a special dinner hosted by Michael McGrath and his wife at the Holiday Inn Telford (Ironbridge). Click the image below to read the full story in the Shropshire Star.

Click HERE to see Brandon’s dedicated Flickr Album – happy viewing!

MHF’s CEO Michael McGrath said: “It was a real privilege to spend some quality time with Brandon and his family. I know he loved meeting his football heroes, especially England’s all-time leading scorer Wayne Rooney. And at the dinner, everyone was so excited; it was such a memorable evening and wonderful to see such joy and happiness … that’s the #powerof657!”

Pictured below: Brandon with England Captain, Wayne Rooney

Contact:
Lydia Drukarz, Director
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