Mercedes arranged a special visit to the home of young fan Harry Shaw, a terminally ill cancer sufferer, following the Spanish Grand Prix.
The team sent one of its cars plus Lewis Hamilton’s race winner trophy from the race to the Shaw family home in Redhill, Surrey.The five-year-old sent Hamilton a video message of support before the race. Hamilton replied telling him: “You are such a strong boy, I wish I was as strong as you, I wanted the world to see how strong you are and ask everyone to send their best wishes and prayers to you during this hard time.”
The world champion dedicated his victory at the Circuit de Catalunya to young fan and said the team would “try to do something special for him” for him.
“I had a really nice message from a young kid who is suffering with an illness,” said Hamilton after the race. “We had sent him a card and a cap and I saw that today before going into the race.
“I was chilled but I was looking for something for inspiration, something to grab onto, so I dedicated today’s race to him. You try to go out there and do something for someone and it doesn’t always turn out as well as it has, but nonetheless it has, so I hope he’s watching.”
Don't miss anything new from RaceFans
Follow RaceFans on social media:
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2019 F1 season
- Crying in the Melbourne car park at 2019 grand prix was my career low – Ocon
- McLaren Racing reports reduced £71 million loss in 2019
- Kvyat: Hockenheim podium last year was “my biggest achievement” so far
- How the FIA’s new encrypted fuel flow meter targets Ferrari’s suspected ‘aliasing’ trick
- “He smashed my office door”: 23 must-see moments from ‘Drive to Survive’ season two
Phylyp (@phylyp)
13th May 2019, 21:18
Best wishes to the kid. Terminal illness? Damn, that’s harsh.
Adam
14th May 2019, 16:17
Yeah. He was giving 1 week to live at the end of April so he is still fighting hard.
paulguitar (@paulguitar)
13th May 2019, 21:47
Poor kid, it’s heartbreaking. It’s amazing when something like this can be done, it probably gave the kid a real lift.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
13th May 2019, 21:55
Top stuff.
The little guy needs to pack as much as possible into a short time and this is worth the world.
DAllein (@)
13th May 2019, 22:44
@keithcollantine
If not with a link, but maybe it is possible to at least mention the Fundraising campaign which is taking place right now?
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
13th May 2019, 23:14
Well done Mercedes. What a thoughtful thing to do.
BOSS
14th May 2019, 4:39
Spot on. Very good gesture of good will. I love Mercedes more now.
James Neutron (@phillyspur)
13th May 2019, 23:16
I can’t imagine the level of heartbreak his parents must be going through.that’s a priceless gesture on the part of Lewis and Mercedes.
stefano (@alfa145)
13th May 2019, 23:32
sometimes people are amazing beings
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
13th May 2019, 23:58
@alfa145 +1, I wish our news agenda had more stories like this, it didn’t take much for the team to do, and it presumably brought a smile to his face, like i’m sure it’s brought many smiles to the people who read this site.
Please nobody point and say it’s a ‘marketing exercise’, it’s just a nice thing, to people who are suffering terribly, it’s a small and human gesture.
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
14th May 2019, 0:49
@alfa145, @bernasaurus +2.
Well done, Lewis and Mercedes.
budchekov (@budchekov)
14th May 2019, 0:48
Real sweet, gives one faith in humanity, touching teamwork, well done.
Pironi the Provocateur (@pironitheprovocateur)
14th May 2019, 1:12
No matter how different we are in our preferences and opinions, these things make you question your worldview. I’m truly sorry for the kid and the family, this sort of things shouldn’t be happening in the world. Nice gesture by Mercedes.
AndyS
14th May 2019, 1:36
Heartbroken for Harry & his family…Lewis is a good lad, proud to be a fan.
BlackJackFan
14th May 2019, 3:05
This should also act as a reminder of all the poor kids who die, and have died, every year – for no apparent reason… Depending on your religion, of course…
Short Circuit (@jjohn)
14th May 2019, 3:29
Simon White
14th May 2019, 3:57
Great gesture! Last year’s car with current front wing spec?
KGN11
14th May 2019, 6:58
And what’s your point? Were they meant to ship the current W10 to his home?
Why can’t you just be happy without the criticism?
RB13
14th May 2019, 10:50
Bit of a mish mash from the looks of it. Last years chassis, launch spec 2017 nose and 2018 spec front wing.
What an amazing gesture from Mercedes and Lewis. He alluded that he would ask the team to do something special for Harry so he undoubtedly has a hand in making this happen.
Who’s cutting onions in here…
Patrick (@anunaki)
14th May 2019, 5:32
Just wow, this touches me. I have a 5 year old boy myself.
What a loving gesture
MCBosch
14th May 2019, 7:50
Top stuff! Not a Hamilton / Mercedes fan, but this is pure class. Being the father of an almost 9 month old boy, I can’t comprehend how tough it must be for the whole family. This is a miracle moment in the life of all of them and a great gesture of Mercedes / Lewis.
Lee H (@stopitrawr)
14th May 2019, 9:07
Lewis, you’re an utter legend for doing this.
Life can be incredibly unfair to those who do not deserve it and by making this effort, Mercedes and Lewis have shown the positive impact they can make even at the darkest of times.
My thoughts are with the Shaw family, and I hope that the joy brought to Harry stays with him and his family forever.
Michael C Davies
14th May 2019, 12:08
This is an awesome gesture by the Mercedes team, and Lewis. He is always doing something for children and paying attention to his fans. I pray for Harry and his family at this difficult time. God Bless everyone.
kpcart
14th May 2019, 12:32
Don’t like these corporate stunts, they should visit a hospital full off terminally ill kids, instead of one white kid from an upper class family (look at their garden). Very selective sympathy, just like Kim kardashian’s selective sympathy, it is always class based it seems. This kid I bet had a better life in 5 years than many do in a lifetime. Celebrities and corporations often choose kids like this ahead of worse off kids that can never ever make contact with the celebrity.
Short Circuit (@jjohn)
14th May 2019, 13:46
.” The world champions did not want to publicise their touching gesture, which involved some team members jetting out of Barcelona on Sunday night, before swiftly returning for this week’s test which starts on Tuesday. But Harry’s parents, James and Charlotte, are keen to talk about their son’s devastating illness in a bid to raise money for research into Ewing’s Sarcoma. Their appeal page has already hit STG 20,000 ($A37,351). The tally stood at a little more than STG 2,000 before Hamilton devoted his win to the youngster involved some team members jetting out of Barcelona on Sunday night, before swiftly returning for this week’s test which starts on Tuesday. But Harry’s parents, James and Charlotte, are keen to talk about their son’s devastating illness in a bid to raise money for research into Ewing’s Sarcoma. Their appeal page has already hit STG 20,000 ($A37,351). The tally stood at a little more than STG 2,000 before Hamilton devoted his win to the youngster.
Others WILL hopefully benefit…..but to each their own.
Short Circuit (@jjohn)
14th May 2019, 13:53
No idea how to take off the double paste😡 .(from Herald Sun in Australia)
Foggy
15th May 2019, 6:46
Why is it someone will always find negativity when someone does something charitable.
paulguitar (@paulguitar)
15th May 2019, 10:24
kpkart
I genuinely pity you.
Jere (@jerejj)
14th May 2019, 13:03
I doubt Mercedes is actually going to give away a piece of machinery that valuable. The car, I mean.
Steve
14th May 2019, 17:44
My general response to the naysayers….without a doubt, some people will find fault with any decent gesture. And of course, Mercedes are not going to gift a piece of machinery that big….what would the family do with it? Good grief.
Cape Cod For Harry
25th May 2019, 18:07
I am sure Lewis Hamilton would love to visit Harry in person, but instead, he and his team shipped a formula 1 car and trophy to Harry. They showed that Harry matters and that Harry’s voice was heard around the world. This special and precious gift has clearly given Harry much joy and supported this brave little boy, helping him continue to be proud of who he is and to further his voice by telling the people he admires that he loves them. Harry has a great sense of humor too, which has touched my heart and I pray for he and his family.