When Hannah Hampton signed her new contract at our Cobham training ground, she received a very special visitor after young fan Emme and her family were invited along to meet our goalkeeper.
Emme suffers from a condition called Usher Syndrome, which affects both hearing and vision and can lead to permanent sight loss. She is described as a 'football-loving, funny, kind-hearted girl'.
Hampton, who also suffers from a sight condition called strabismus, which affects her depth perception, has overcome all the odds to become England's number one goalkeeper, making her a role model for those with similar difficulties. Last year, the 25-year-old was given a ‘Love Your Eyes Special Recognition Award’ by HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh.
When Emme's parents Beth and Dave learned of her potential loss of vision, they decided to create a 'sight bucket list' for their daughter, made up of dreams she wishes to experience while it is still possible.
On that list was a meeting with Hampton. Emme has idolised our goalkeeper while watching her play for Chelsea and the Lionesses, and so we invited her and her parents to make her dream come true on the day that Hannah signed a new two-year contract with Chelsea.
While on site at Cobham, our head coach Sonia Bompastor also dropped in to say hello to Emme, while the youngster was also invited to become Hannah's mascot at one of our home matches at Stamford Bridge this season, completing this once-in-a-lifetime day for the youngster.
You can watch this heartfelt meeting between Hannah and Emme below!