Brazilian top-flight club wears name of English fan with MND on shirts
Coritiba replaces its front-of-shirt sponsor with the name of English fan Jonny Butcher, who is battling motor neurone disease, to raise awareness.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Coritiba players wore shirts bearing English fan Jonny Butcher's name
- 29-year-old Butcher from Norwich was diagnosed with ALS in February
- Connection sparked by his Brazilian wife and a partnership with Norwich City
- Players and fans honored him with a signed banner during the Chapecoense match
When the players of Brazilian team Coritiba stepped onto the pitch for their league fixture on Saturday evening, their kits featured a notable and touching change. Instead of displaying the usual front-of-shirt commercial sponsor, the jerseys were adorned with the name of English supporter Jonny Butcher to raise vital awareness for motor neurone disease.
The 29-year-old native of Norwich, England, received a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a specific form of MND, back in February. MND is an incurable and degenerative condition that deteriorates the nervous system, destroying specialized motor neurones located in the brain and spinal cord, which ultimately causes muscles to weaken, waste away, and cease functioning.
Butcher, a lifelong supporter of Norwich City, developed a connection to the Brazilian Serie A club Coritiba through two distinct circumstances. In March 2023, he connected with his future wife and Coritiba native Ana Clara on a Christian dating app, and after visiting her in Brazil a few months later, he quickly grew to love the city.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
By a remarkable coincidence, Norwich City and Coritiba had established a strategic club partnership back in 2022, making the adoption of the Brazilian side feel entirely natural for him. The couple tied the knot in 2024, but Butcher's devastating diagnosis in February completely upended their lives.
The decision by a top-flight Brazilian football club to replace commercial branding with the name of an international fan suffering from a rare condition highlights sports' unique capacity to champion social causes. MND and ALS present profound challenges for patients and their families, and global visibility helps drive crucial public engagement, funding, and research efforts toward finding effective treatments for those affected.
Having compiled a bucket list of experiences he hoped to achieve while still able, Butcher included attending a Coritiba match at their Couto Pereira stadium alongside his brother-in-law. Although breathing difficulties and diminishing mobility prevented the trip from happening, Coritiba learned of his inspiring story and chose to honor him before their Serie A victory against Chapecoense.
The jersey design incorporated a sunflower, which serves as the international symbol for raising awareness of non-visible disabilities. Following the rendition of the Brazilian national anthem, the players gathered to pose alongside a banner featuring Butcher's name decorated with signatures from Coritiba fans, players, and staff members.
"We sat there watching it all from England, completely overwhelmed and honestly struggling to believe that this was really happening."
Ana Clara
Coritiba announced that a selection of these special match-worn shirts will be delivered directly to Butcher's family as well as an institution that provides support and assistance for individuals battling rare conditions, including MND. Ana Clara shared that Jonny expressed a deep wish to shake every single hand and personally tell each person what the gesture meant to him.
She added that while they may never fully be able to express their profound gratitude, they hope everyone involved knows this is something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Even during the most difficult chapter of their journey, love and kindness remain present in the world, and this tribute will forever remain a cherished part of their story.
Source: BBC Sport
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