Bradley Lowery to be honoured at Sports Personality of the Year awards

The parents of the Sunderland fan, who died in July aged six, will be presented with the award on stage at Sunday night's ceremony in Liverpool

Bradley Lowery was a passionate Sunderland supporter (Getty)

Bradley Lowery is to be honoured posthumously with the Helen Rollason award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2017.

The parents of the Sunderland fan, who died in July aged six, will be presented with the award on stage at Sunday night's ceremony in Liverpool.

Lowery suffered from neuroblastoma – a rare type of cancer – from the age of 18 months and captured hearts across the sporting world during a number of appearances as a mascot.

He struck up a close friendship with former Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe and the pair led out England at Wembley for a World Cup qualifier against Lithuania in March.

His parents, Gemma and Carl, started the Bradley Lowery Foundation after his death to help treat children with similar conditions.

The Helen Rollason award was introduced in 1999 in memory of BBC Sport journalist and presenter Helen Rollason MBE, who lost her battle with cancer in that year, aged 43. Previous winners include Sir Frank Williams and Jane Tomlinson.

PA