England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has shown his compassionate side by gifting a World Cup semi-final ticket to Jordan Adams, a fan diagnosed with a genetic form of dementia. The Manchester United star, 21, reached out to Adams after learning of his story, providing him with a ticket to watch England face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday night.
Fan's Battle with Frontotemporal Dementia
Jordan Adams, 31, and his brother Cian, 26, were both diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) after their mother Geraldine died from the same condition at age 52 in 2016. The illness is genetic, meaning the brothers are almost certain to develop symptoms in their 40s. Instead of despairing, they founded the 'FTD Brothers' initiative, raising over £2 million for dementia research, including completing 33 marathons in 33 days.
Mainoo's Gesture of Kindness
Adams flew to Atlanta hoping to secure a ticket for the semi-final. Mainoo contacted him via Instagram with the offer. In a video, Adams said: 'None other than Kobbie Mainoo reached out and offered me a ticket to the game. To be quite honest, I'm quite speechless. I can't believe a current England player in the squad at the World Cup would show that level of kindness. That is unbelievable.'
Mainoo, yet to play a minute in the tournament, used his spare time to make a difference. Adams had previously written on Instagram: 'Eight years ago, I was told that I will start to die in my 40s from the same dementia I watched and helped care for my mum live with. That's why since then I have chosen to live life in the fast lane, making sure I leave this world with no regrets.'
Wider Support and Awareness
Adams will collaborate with FIFA at the stadium to spread awareness about FTD. The brothers also received a letter from William, Prince of Wales, who expressed being 'incredibly impressed with your inspiring journey.' A GoFundMe page has been set up for donations to support their cause.
