Bradley Lowery Foundation reveals name of its planned holiday home in Scarborough

The charity received hundreds of name suggestions after asking the public and Bradley’s mum Gemma has chosen Super Brad’s Pad as the winner.

The holiday home will be a five-bedroom building and provide luxury breaks for families from the North East and Yorkshire who have children with life-threatening, shortening or compromising medical conditions.

Gemma Lowery founded the foundation in 2017 after her son Bradley lost his fight to neuroblastoma - a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer.

Bradley’s story captured hearts around the world and £1.3million was raised to get him treatment in the US. Those donations provided the base for the charity.

Scarborough Council donated the land the holiday home will be built on - to the south of Scalby Manor on Burniston Road - to the foundation in 2018, and planning permission was secured last year.

Construction is expected to start in late March, early April this year and last between nine and 12 months.

Gemma Lowery said: “It’s taken a while to get here but everything’s falling into place which is fantastic.

“We want it to be somewhere families can spend time together.”

Gemma explained when Bradley was ill, the immediate family did a lot of things to build memories with him but it wasn’t always possible to invite extended family members along.

She wants Super Brad’s Pad to allow whole families to spend time together and there will be a games room, outdoor play area and the charity Merlin’s Magic Wand will be building one of their magic spaces for visitors to enjoy.

She hopes to welcome the first family in early 2021.

“Families won’t have to go outside if they don’t want to. Obviously we’d like them to go out and see how beautiful Scarborough is, but if they’re too poorly, there’s enough for them to do,” Gemma said.

“We got to do a lot of nice things with Bradley because we had the whole world behind us but not every family can afford it.

“I wanted to make somewhere where families can stay for free so they don’t have to worry about cost. All they have to do is show up and have the most amazing four days.”

The majority of referrals from families are expected to come through CLIC Sargent but people can also self refer.

The foundation will try to accommodate every family who applies for a stay and expects to support around 100 families each year.

However, if they have to, those families with children with life-shortening and terminal illnesses will be given priority.

The foundation has raised around £300k towards the build, and has received additional gifts from companies such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Gemma said in the wake of Bradley’s death, starting the foundation gave her something to focus on.

“I went from being a full time mam to a poorly little boy, researching treatments and fundraising to nothing overnight.

“The work was a coping mechanism to get through a very negative situation.

“I learned so much while he was ill and I wanted the process for other parents to be easier than it was for us and seeing families now get equipment makes me feel great.

“I won’t stop until we get a cure for children’s cancer.”

Gemma and her team are now pushing for the last bit of money towards the build and are also appealing to local businesses who would like to offer support to get in touch.

Any local construction professionals who would like to donate time to help with the build, local businesses willing to give support to families when the holiday home opens or places willing to display a fundraising tub to fund the ongoing costs after opening should contact the foundation on [email protected]