A small gesture can sometimes be a big thing for someone. For Shaun Whiter, an amateur footballer, it was Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi's gesture that came as a huge favour. The Barcelona playmaker donated his signed shirt to help raise funds for Whiter, who lost both his legs in a hit-and-run accident.
The 27-year-old Whiter was helping his friend Joey Abbs to change a flat tire on the side of the road in July this year when the accident happened. Unfortunately, the former Newmarket Town FC, lost both of his legs, thus ending his football career. Abbs, 31, also suffered a serious leg injury in the horrifying accident.
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Messi is certainly doing his part to help the two and is the latest football star to donate a signed shirt along with clubmate Arda Turan. Other notable players to have donated their shirts are England captain Wayne Rooney and his countryman John Terry. Apparently, Liverpool, West Ham, Tottenham, Chelsea and England football team have also donated signed shirts to raise funds.
All the items will be auctioned at a fundraiser on 9 October 2016. The two men will receive the proceedings from the auction to cover their medical bills and physical therapy sessions.
Speaking to BBC, Whiter expressed his gratitude towards Messi and Turan. He also posted a few pictures on Twitter of Messi's signed jersey. He also harbours dreams of competing in the next edition of the Paralympics.
Whiter told BBC, "I can't thank Lionel Messi and Arda Turan enough for donating their shirts and getting them to Cambridge."
The player who is getting married next year said at a fundraiser last month, “You've got to have a dream. You've got to start somewhere.” He posted another picture of himself in a wheelchair and wrote that being able to walk on his wedding day was his primary objective for now.
The accident was ruled as a hit-and-run case and the driver was arrested and sentenced to three years and four months of prison time. He was pressed with two charges of causing injury by dangerous driving.
Messi nursing groin injury
Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi is himself out for at least three weeks after suffering a groin injury in Barcelona's drawn match against Atletico Madrid. This incident has raised questions about Messi's recurring groin problem.
The Argentine forward who is one of the favourites to win this year's Ballon d'Or, started the season with a bang, scoring four goals in as many La Liga Matches and providing two assists and also scored a brilliant hat-trick in the Champions League match against Celtic.
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