Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
This adorable seven-year-old Man United fan received over 40 footballs and other toys from neighbours and businesses after posting a poster he made of his lost ball across town.
In a heartwarming twist, after receiving the balls and toys the big-hearted youngster, named Benicio, has decided to give the extra gifts away to help needy children in the town of Tandil, in Buenos Aires province, southeastern Argentina.
According to local media, the story began when the boy was playing football with his family in the square of Fugl and Jose Marti when he looked away and ended up losing it.
He then began an intense search with posters that included a cute drawing of his lost ball, which he posted in various parts of the city and can be seen in one of the photos.
On a white sheet, the cute boy drew his ball with a text saying: “Have you seen my ball?”, and a photo of the poster garnered 1,500 shares on Facebook.
Benicio’s mother, Marisa Miranda shared her desperation in an emotional message on Facebook saying: “My son Benicio, seven years old, made these posters that are in the square of Fugl and Jose Marti, he lost his ball yesterday, if someone took it thinking that it was abandoned, I ask them to return it to Fugl 1160, he is very sad, if you can return it I will thank you people !!”(sic)
This prompted neighbours and local businesses like the energy company YPF, to donate over 40 balls and other toys.
Miranda told Central European News (CEN) her son could not believe so many balls had arrived, saying: “The first thing he could say was ‘and now where are we going to keep so many balls? How do we inflate so many?’
Miranda added: “A marketing manager at YPF called me and said they would send me 40 balls and after two or three days I received them here.”
After Benicio received his favourite toy, the family decided to launch a solidarity movement and gathered more toys and balls to distribute on Argentina’s Children’s Day – the third Sunday of August – among children who could not afford them.
Miranda added: “It is how I showed my son that although there are bad people who steal, there are also many more good, supportive, generous people who think about the suffering of the others. Benicio is only seven years old and as parents, we cannot find a better way of teaching that.”
Miranda accompanied her son in the distribution of gifts and she also commented to CEN that Benicio has asked to give more toys to children as well as “the clothes that don’t fit him anymore”.
According to the proud mother, Benicio is a “kind-hearted child” who does not eat meat because “he doesn’t want animals to get killed for food”, he is also a big fan of Messi and among his favourite balls is one he has with the badge of Manchester United.
Benicio’s mother told CEN that his father always talks to him about football, especially the two Argentinian former Manchester United stars, Carlos Tevez and Juan Sebastian Veron.
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