TERMINALLY ill five-year-old Bradley Lowery led his Sunderland heroes out at the Stadium of Light against Chelsea on Wednesday night - and since has received 28,000 Christmas cards.

Huge Black Cats fan Bradley was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in 2013 - and his story has captured the hearts of the football world and beyond.

2 Battling Bradley Lowery, seen here with his idol Jermaine Defoe, has a rare form of cancer Credit: PA:Press Association

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A Christmas card campaign started by an Everton fan has seen the youngster receive thousands of cards from around the world as football fans united behind him in support.

His parents say his wish is to get as many Christmas cards as possible as truckloads of Royal Mail vans arrive at his house with cards and over 75 parcels containing gifts.

2 Bradley Lowery scores a penalty and many want him to be awarded the goal of the month Credit: Reuters

Sport stars such as Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka and even former Prime Minister Tony Blair sent cards.

A Twitter hashtag #BradleyLoweryForGoaloftheMonth has been set up as fans call for the youngster to be given the Premier League goal of the month award for his penalty against Blues keeper Asmir Begovic in the warm-up - and Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi has got behind the campaign.

#SAFC fan Bradley Lowery, who is terminally ill, receives 11,000 Christmas cards after @Everton fan starts campaign pic.twitter.com/J5C2NSrDc8 — BBC Look North NE&C (@BBCLN) December 13, 2016

Mum Gemma said: "They have come in from Australia, New Zealand and all over the UK."

A message on the Facebook page set up to help Bradley read: "Can I just say up to now the response has been immense and we cant thank everyone enough for your kind words.

"We look forward to reading your kind words with Brad and the gifts and money he has received is fantastic.

Congrats @Bradleysfight 💙 already the same number of goals as me hahaha!!! 😂😂🙈 Hope you will be the PL goal of the month too 🙏 #Respect 🙏 https://t.co/AaaxdG0L2E — Michy Batshuayi (@mbatshuayi) December 15, 2016

"We want to say a huge thank you to you all for helping make Bradley's Christmas the most memorable ever."

After two-years of chemotherapy, Bradley was effectively free of cancer and for 18 months - but more than £700,000 was raised for hin to have antibody treatment in New York, with Everton pledging £200,000.

Let's help Bradley Lowery win @PremierLeague Goal of the Month! ⚽️



Use #BradleyLoweryForGoalOfTheMonth and RT!



https://t.co/PlUFNqPf0t — Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) December 15, 2016

But the cancer returned in June. Last week, Gemma revealed treatment would only give him more time.

Gemma also revealed that the latest treatment will mean he won’t be able to mix with people over the coming weeks to protect his low immune system.

If you want to send a card to Bradley, you can. Send them to 5 Attlee Avenue, Blackhall Rocks, Hartlepool TS27 4BY.