Meet Alfred

Ten-year-old Alfred loves music. His favourite band is Coldplay.  

Alfred lives with reduced vision, due to glaucoma and a benign tumour around his right eye, caused by the genetic condition Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).  

As a result of his condition Alfred is an oncology patient at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and has had more surgeries than birthdays in his short life, including two this year. 

Dad, Darren, said: “Alfred’s a true warrior and has been through so much in his 10 years, with most months filled with hospital visits, scans and rounds of medication. 

“He takes it all in his stride but we don’t underestimate the impact that it all has on him, especially as he gets older and appreciates that his ‘normal’ is quite different to that of his friends.” 

Why Alfred chose his wish

When his family were first introduced to Rays of Sunshine, it didn’t take long for Alfred to settle on his magical wish.  

He’s loved Coldplay since he first saw videos of their concerts four years ago. With Alfred’s reduced vision, all the lights and colours of a typical Coldplay concert really stand out to him.  

As part of a group organised by the Childhood Tumour Trust, Alfred even learned BSL to sign along to Coldplay’s song, Fix You.  

Understanding how important Coldplay was to Alfred, Rays of Sunshine got planning.  

The wish

Alfred travelled to London from his home in Wolverhampton by train – his other great passion in life – and he was overjoyed to use a new Avanti train as well as the Lioness line for the first time, as the family made their way from Euston to the stadium. 

By coincidence, when Alfred arrived at the stadium he bumped into Lioness goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton. He’s a big fan of Hannah’s as she was once a patient of the same medical team that has treated Alfred since he was three weeks old, at Birmingham Children’s Hospital 

Alfred sang and danced his way through the concert, loving the fireworks, Xylo bands and all of the light shows and said it was the ‘best night ever’. 

And of course, when the band played Fix You, Alfred proudly signed along to the lyrics.  

Following the show Alfred also met Olympic gold medallist and fellow Wulfrunian, Dame Denise Lewis, who was happy to chat and learn all about Alfred’s wish. 

The impact of the wish

Alfred was over the moon with his wish following the concert, and still talks about it and reminisces with his family. 

His mum, Catherine, says: Mum, Catherine, added: “This year in particular has been difficult with two surgeries, a serious infection and a treatment regime that was all consuming for a time.  

“He’s missed a lot of school and so many fun things, that being able to have such an amazing time, doing all the things he loves was emotional and allowed us all to let go of everything for a couple of days.”