Walsall FC to welcome special mascot brothers for Acorns Matchday Takeover

Brothers Ethan and Eli, whose family has been supported by Walsall FC’s charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hospice, will take to the pitch as mascots. And in a very special way, their brother, Ezra, will be joining them.

They are there as part of Acorns Matchday Takeover, a day that will not only raise vital funds for the hospice but also ensure that Ezra’s memory continues to shine brightly.

Ezra’s family do everything they can to keep his memory alive. When his brothers walk onto the pitch on Saturday, they will be carrying Ezra’s teddy bear – which holds his ashes – close to their hearts.

Dad, John, reflected on just how special this moment will be for the family: “One of our greatest fears is that Ezra will be forgotten. But through experiences like this, he remains part of everything we do. His teddy bear comes with us everywhere so whenever we go out as a four, he's always the fifth one there.

“Bescot stadium is somewhere we feel really connected to Ezra. It brings us immense comfort. We’re huge Walsall fans – there are 15 of us going on the day. It will be a moment none of us will ever forget – a memory to last a lifetime.”

Ezra was a wonderfully happy little boy – the apple of his family’s eye and a huge fan of cuddles.

John describes Ezra as ‘forever six’. Despite doctors saying he wouldn’t reach his first birthday; Ezra defied the odds, and his family enjoyed six ‘miracle’ years with their little boy before his death in July 2022.

John and his wife Suzanne were overjoyed to welcome Ezra into the world in 2015. Yet, at just 10 weeks old, Ezra was ‘failing to thrive’ and was admitted to hospital. It was then that little Ezra was diagnosed with Zellweger syndrome, an extremely rare genetic condition affecting his metabolism and neurological function.

It is so rare in fact, that Ezra is thought to be amongst just a handful of children in the UK, with only 500 known cases worldwide.

“It was a world-ending moment for us,” John explained. “Our tiny baby was just four months old. From walking into hospital one Friday morning in February expecting good news, to being discharged that same afternoon with the news that he was dying – we were in absolute despair.”

The rarity of Ezra’s condition left the family with little information or support.

“We were left all on our own, with nothing but an information sheet. Suddenly, our world became a dark, broken place – full of fear and uncertainty about how long we had with Ezra. It was terrifying.”

It was just 48 hours later that Acorns stepped in, at the time when the family needed them most.

John said: “By that Sunday, Acorns had scooped us up in their safety net. It felt like a warm hug at the moment we needed it most. Someone told us, ‘You’re not on your own – we can help you.’ It meant everything.”

Initially hesitant about the idea of a hospice, the family was amazed by the breadth of support Acorns offered.

“They not only came into our lives armed with information and emotional support – they gave us the medication Ezra crucially needed to ease his pain.

“Our Family Practitioner, Sandra, was a godsend. She connected with their pain specialist who quickly identified that Ezra was experiencing neuropathic pain and provided medication that brought Ezra comfort.

“Seeing your child in pain is just about the worst thing ever. If his life was going to be short, we wanted it to be happy. When the medication started to take effect, it felt like we could breathe again.

“Sandra organised everything. She was like a real life angel. Without her I don’t know how we would’ve coped. That feeling of support from someone who knew what they were doing was like having someone guide us through the dark.”

Through Acorns, Ezra was able to experience special moments his family had longed for.

“There were so many firsts we wanted him to have, like swimming in the hydrotherapy pool or stroking the PAT dog he adored. Acorns made them possible.”

Acorns also supported Ezra’s siblings, Ethan and Eli, and continue to even after his death.

“Acorns sibling team provide an unbelievably well-rounded support system for my boys,” John explained. “While most support systems were taken away overnight after Ezra died, my boys still attend sibling groups and get to experience unforgettable moments – like being mascots for Walsall FC.”

Today’s charity takeover is the second dedicated Acorns matchday of this season and aims to raise vital funds for the children’s hospice and its care for families like John’s.

Claire Snape, Area Fundraising Manager at Acorns said: “It’s heartening that we can still create special moments for Ezra’s family – this is truly part of the magic of Acorns. But we can only keep doing this with the help of our local community.

“It costs £35,000 every day to provide our vital care and support. If every fan at Saturday’s match donates £5, they will raise enough to fund a full day of care across all three of our hospices and out in the community.”

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for babies, children and young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions, and support for their families.

In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 780 children across the West Midlands, and supported over 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved. Children visit Acorns for rehabilitative respite, symptom management, emergency and end-of-life care.

This care and support is provided from Acorns three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community.

Acorns needs around £35,000 each day to provide its children’s hospice care, with two thirds of that amount coming from generous donations and fundraising by the local community.