Special Weekend as Theo walks out with team against Pompey
It promises to be a special weekend for Theo Flint who is looking forward to walking out onto the Greenhous Meadow pitch as mascot with the matchball ahead of Shrewsbury Town's final game of the season against Portsmouth.
A remarkable teenager, Theo has faced many adversities over the past 16 years.
He was diagnosed with Neurofibromastosis Type 1 and Autism when he was 18 months old and suffers from several other challenging conditions. He received a further setback in April 2012 when he was diagnosed with cancer in the brain.
But Theo has always had a positive outlook on life and, even with this recent devastating news, has thought more about others than himself and started a charitable collection for hats for young cancer sufferers, handing out the hats to children when he went to hospital for treatment.
Theo is unable to play football or other sports because of his cancer and other issues, but he loves the game and watches matches.
He has already had the opportunity to visit the dressing rooms and meet the players, and he's now keen to see what happens in preparation for the match.
Theo is one of the young people cared for at Hope House Children's Hospice.
Hope House is a local charity which supports and helps local terminally ill and threatened children, their families and siblings.
The hospice offers respite care to over 400 local children, a ‘home from home’, where parents can simply enjoy time with their child, where all the critical care, monitoring and general every day home management tasks are taken care of by trained staff.
"We aim to give the family time together, building memories, making discoveries, laughing and enjoying every moment together," said Paul Coope, the Shropshire and Powys fundraiser for Hope House Children's Hospices.
"Hope House has offered respite care to children and their families, counselling and guidance, advice and support in the region for over 18 years.
"All our support and services are free, but we are only able to offer this support through the generous donation of money from the public.
"Hope House would like to thank Shrewsbury Football Club for giving Theo the opportunity to achieve one of his ambitions and for allowing us to make a charitable collection at the grounds during this match.
"We would also like to recognise Theo, a young man who is delight to be around, always happy, always positive, and his family who are always there for him."
Martin James, Shrewsbury Town's head of community development, added: "It was a pleasure to meet Theo and his family when he came to visit us at the Greenhous Meadow last week.
"He thoroughly enjoyed wearing Jon Taylor's match shirt and is excited about being mascot and carrying the ball out at the start of Saturday's game.
"I'm sure all the supporters will give a big round of applause to this very brave young man."