Torrington boy off to Old Trafford
BRAVE young Torrington schoolboy Dre Curtis is off to Old Trafford this week to meet his dream team Manchester United. When he travels to Manchester today (Wednesday) it will be the fulfilment of a two-year dream for the patient youngster. Dre, seven, ha
BRAVE young Torrington schoolboy Dre Curtis is off to Old Trafford this week to meet his dream team Manchester United.
When he travels to Manchester today (Wednesday) it will be the fulfilment of a two-year dream for the patient youngster.
Dre, seven, has been confined to a wheelchair since an horrific car crash near Clovelly three years ago which almost took his life. His grandmother Madeline Hart was killed and his older brother Sol, 10, and his mother Emma were also injured.
Two years ago Dre was named a Child of Courage in the annual Women's Own Children of Courage Awards. He attended a star-studden awards ceremony in London and met PM's wife Sarah Brown and had lunch at No 10.
Dre was then asked if he had a special dream and said it would be to meet the Red Devils. He has had to wait his turn and, unfortunately, when his chance came Dre was in hospital, so mum Emma had to turn it down.
But two weeks ago the young man's face lit up when through the post came a letter signed by Sir Alex Ferguson, inviting him again to Old Trafford.
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He will travel up today and tomorrow he and uncle Terry Cook - a United supporter for 40 years - will join their dream team at the club's training centre before having lunch, chatting with the players and getting autographs.
Then it will be off to Old Trafford for a grand tour of the ground, its heritage and its facilities.
"You never see Dre out of a Manchester United shirt," said his mum.
"When he was very young, before the accident, he was out kicking a ball about all the time. That is one thing he cannot do now, but he still supports United with a passion. It is sad that he is confined to a wheelchair, but we are just grateful that he is still here, because it was touch and go."
Brother Sol, now recovered from serious injuries he also received in the crash, will not miss out. The whole family will be travelling to Manchester and he will join mum and dad Emma and Shaun on a tour of the Old Trafford ground.
