Tom Brady Grants Make-A-Want for Younger Fan Throughout Fanatics Fest (Unique)

Tom Brady simply made a younger fan’s want come true.

On Friday, Aug. 16, the 47-year-old retired NFL star partnered with Fanatics and Make-A-Want to meet and throw some passes with 12-year-old Christopher Sanchez through the Fanatics Fest on the Jacob Javits Heart in New York Metropolis.

“So I received to satisfy Chris as we speak and he is from South Florida, so we had lots of issues in widespread. He loves soccer. He is the quarterback, so it is simply enjoyable to hold with him,” Brady tells PEOPLE solely concerning the second he shared with Sanchez, who was first recognized with Leukemia when he was 6 years outdated.

Amongst these connections is a shared ardour for soccer and the truth that each Brady and Sanchez performed for the wolverines. For the previous quarterback, that was throughout his time enjoying for the College of Michigan, whereas the mascot for Sanchez’s faculty, the place he additionally serves as quarterback on the workforce, is the wolverines.

Sanchez’s mom, Liane, tells PEOPLE that whereas “the circumstances that introduced us listed here are painful to consider,” that “it is a actually glad second.” She provides, “He is wholesome and he will take pleasure in it and we’re so so excited.”

Based on Sanchez, his purpose is to play for the NFL when he grows up. And upon listening to that younger fan — who’s now in remission — desires of following in his footsteps, Brady says, “Wow, I like that.”

Sanchez’s different hope whereas assembly Brady was to learn to maintain and throw a soccer identical to the previous New Englands Patriot star. And in line with the athlete, there are “lots of issues” that go into throwing that excellent cross.

When requested for his high three suggestions, Brady tells PEOPLE, “What I taught him was to essentially level your left shoulder, proper, your goal, after which whenever you rotate your physique, you bought to rotate it form of reverse of the way in which that you just usually would.”

He provides, “Most individuals go right-handed, they only need to open their left shoulder. So shut your left shoulder a little bit bit, take a extremely quick stride together with your left to get lots of power, after which actually attain to your goal.”

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Wanting again on Sanchez’s effort, Brady says, “He did rather well. He is really throwing the ball good. He is received a shot. He is a very good little athlete.”

Fanatics Fest, in the meantime, kicked off on Friday with an look from Brady, who additionally joined sports activities media persona Stephen A. Smith for a panel known as “True Grit.” Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin introduced collectively high present and former athletes from the NFL, NBA and MLB to rejoice the intersection of sports activities and leisure.

Different panels on Friday embody a tribute to the New York Knicks that includes superfans Ben Stiller and Spike Lee with Knicks gamers Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson, a dialogue between MLB legends David Ortiz and Derek Jeter known as “Character Counts” and Eli Manning celebrating a 100 years of New York Giants soccer.

The occasion runs by means of Sunday, Aug. 18 and options panels, a number of phases and theaters, unique merchandise, reside podcasts and main bulletins.

Brady’s look at Fanatics Fest comes simply after the retired quarterback took his daughter Vivian Lake, 11, on a visit to Paris for the Summer season Olympics.

In a recap publish shared on Instagram, Brady mentioned, “I didn’t fairly know what to anticipate going into @Paris2024, however our three days actually went above and past what I may ever have imagined.”

“We noticed athletes from many sports activities and plenty of international locations, however it was particularly significant to have the ability to come to this unimaginable metropolis with my daughter and watch probably the most highly effective ladies I’ve ever seen combat for gold, silver and bronze,” he continued. “For the primary time in Olympic historical past there was a 50:50 cut up of feminine and male athletes, a stat I used to be proud to inform Vivi as she watched these heroes compete.”“

I’ve mentioned it a number of occasions recently, however we must always all aspire to do HARD issues,” Brady wrote. “Whether or not it’s in sports activities or in life, push your self past your consolation zone to see what you possibly can actually accomplish. Similar to these athletes all internationally have finished!” 

“Congratulations to the champions, the rivals and the complete metropolis of Paris on a as soon as in a lifetime occasion With numerous reminiscences and enduring relationships,” he concluded his publish.