“From the Bottom of My Heart” – 42 Days After Wrexham Mascot’s Tragic Death Due to Cancer, Ryan Reynolds Gives an Emotional Tribute to Family Supporting Fundraiser

Wrexham finally achieved its long-awaited promotion to the Football League. However, during such events, sad news came revolving around the Welsh community as the club’s mascot, Aaron Wharton, died due to cancer. He was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of brain tumor.

Despite undergoing surgery and receiving radiotherapy in the following years, his family received the devastating news in 2022 that cancer had spread. In memory of Aaron, a group of supporters affectionately known as Aaron’s Army have raised over £12,000 for Brain Tumor Research. In fact, Reynolds paid an emotional tribute to the affected family for their fundraiser.

Ryan Reynolds pays emotional tribute to Wrexham mascot’s family

Once again, Reynolds won the hearts of his beloved club’s community after showing support for a Wrexham fan. In April 2023, Aaron Wharton, a 7-year-old mascot at The Racecourse Ground, tragically passed away after suffering from brain cancer. His family started a fundraising event for Brain Tumor Research, and the Deadpool star diligently showed support for it.

The actor sent a video message that was played during the event. He said, “Thank you for being here to honor Aaron’s memory, for all that you’ve done and all that you’re doing to fund Brain Tumour Research. There’s absolutely no reason why somebody like Aaron should not be with us here today, so the work you’re doing is incredibly important and hugely impactful to so many people.”

“I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he concluded. He was a mascot for Wrexham captain Luke Young in November 2022. The skipper also made a special effort to attend the event and show his support after returning from Las Vegas.

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The fundraiser involved numerous participants, including Aaron’s family and friends, who took part in a ‘firewalk’ challenge. In fact, Aaron’s mother, Nicola Wharton, couldn’t believe receiving a heartfelt message from Reynolds.

Aaron’s mother couldn’t believe receiving a message from Ryan Reynolds

Nicola Wharton, a 39-year-old resident of Flintshire, and Aaron’s mother, expressed her overwhelming emotions upon receiving the unexpected message. She described feeling a sense of disbelief when she heard Ryan Reynolds mention her son’s name on the recording.

“I was shaking when I heard Ryan say Aaron’s name, I was in disbelief. The fact that Ryan echoes and agrees with everything we have set out to do since Aaron’s diagnosis is incredible,” she said.

During the event, participants bravely walked barefoot across scorching embers with temperatures exceeding 800°C. “The adrenaline kept us going and although it was extremely hot, it was a fun event. Knowing we were doing this in Aaron’s name, felt like he was right beside us walking hand in hand,” she added.

Indeed, it’s saddening news, but fans will remember Aaron as a Wrexham hero. Moreover, it was a heartwarming message from Ryan Reynolds, who always stands for his community.

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