Geelong post heartbreaking tribute to AFL fan, six, who lost his battle with cancer just days after posing for a team photo with his beloved Cats
The Geelong Cats community is in mourning over the loss of beloved six-year-old AFL fan Henry McMinn, who passed away on Saturday after a battle with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
The young boy, described by his mother Naomi Uwland as a ‘loving brother and gentle and caring child’, had been in remission and undergoing maintenance treatment.
The Geelong Advertiser was informed by Ms. Uwland that “it just shouldn’t have happened this way.”
He was really strong and a fierce combatant. Not cancer was the cause of our boy’s death.
He was a bit of an old soul; instead of watching cartoons, he would watch the Discovery Channel to learn about animals.
‘Everyone was drawn to him. There was something about him that just touched people.’
Tributes have poured in for Henry, who touched the lives of those around him in a way that belied his young age.
Geelong Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield wore a black armband during Sunday’s match against Essendon and star forward Jeremy Cameron paid tribute with a shaka sign in Henry’s honour.
The club also posted a tribute on social media saying ‘Fly high Henry’.
‘Earlier this year we had the pleasure of hosting Henry at our team photo day where he inspired us all with his strength and positivity,’ the club posted.
‘We are deeply saddened to hear of his passing and send our thoughts to his family, friends and everyone else who had the opportunity to meet him.’
Former Geelong skipper Joel Selwood, who recently became a father, also commented with love hearts on the tribute.
The community has rallied around Henry’s family, with a GoFundMe page established to fund the funeral and support the family.
Henry’s father Scott McMinn has taken to social media to clarify that it was the cancer treatment which led to Henry’s passing,
‘This is the hardest thing to write. But I feel I need to so everyone knows our Henry died cancer-free … Sons bury fathers, not fathers bury sons. I’ll always love you dads little farmer … I’m lost, gutted, devastated and angry.’