Ed Sheeran Grants Dying Fan’s Wish Thanks To #SongForTri Twitter Campaign
Ed Sheeran’s popularity just took a massive boost from something as simple as granting a dying fan’s last wish on Sunday, when he called her and serenaded her to sleep a short time before she passed away after years of battling cystic fibrosis.
As has become common with these sorts of campaigns, friends of Tríona Priestley caught the singer-songwriter’s attention using Twitter and the hashtag #SongForTri.
Ed Sheeran’s management got in touch with Lucy Hanlon — one of the 15-year-old’s friends — who told the Daily Mail:
“Ed rang Triona and personally sang “Little Bird” to her as she took her last breaths. Triona left us listening to her idol surrounded by all the people who loved her. People’s respect is incredible. We would like to thank everyone.”
15-year-old Triona Priestley’s dying wish was today granted by @edsheeran: http://t.co/IINRd13LRF (DOD) #songfortri pic.twitter.com/AvXQCCTqlR
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) April 1, 2014
Earlier, Tríona, who was in the final stages of her battle against cystic fibrosis said last week that her last wish was to hear Ed Sheeran sing to her. And so her friends at Castleknock Community College in Ireland got to work in order to grant their classmate her final wish. After her death, Tríona’s brother, Colm publicly thanked everyone that had been a part of the #SongForTri campaign in a moving statement published by Independent.ie:
“Myself and my family would like to thank Ed Sheeran and everyone who started and supported the #SongForTri campaign. What they gave us and her was a beautiful last moment together. Triona slipped into a sleep as Ed was singing to her and passed away shortly afterwards. So Ed Sheeran sang her to sleep. We would like to thank everyone who played their part in making that happen. We are all so proud of Triona and how she fought Cystic Fibrosis. Everyone loved Triona so much and she knew that. Thank you.”
Thanks to the efforts of the teen’s friends and with the help of Independent.ie Ed Sheeran became aware that they were trying to contact him. Ed Sheeran confirmed that he had gotten in contact with Tri and was able to speak to her and make her dream come true before lunchtime on Sunday. “I managed to get in contact with Triona,” the singer told Independent.ie, “It’s so sad.” Tweets about “#songfortri”
Rest in peace Triona, so heartbreaking x
— Ed Sheeran (@edsheeran) April 1, 2014
By granting Tríona Priestley her last wish, international superstar Ed Sheeran proved that he has his heart in the right place and in the process gained the respect of many for his simple act of kindness.
[Image via Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com]
