Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty celebrated his first birthday last week and is currently in Europe with the team for its season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
Back home in Philly, one of Gritty's biggest fans sent him a letter from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Three-year-old Jack Callahan, originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, is at CHOP receiving treatment for cancer. He's become a huge fan of the orange mascot during his time in Philadelphia.
Over the weekend, Jack's uncle, Ryan Callahan, shared a copy of the dictated letter on Instagram.
Jack turns four on Oct. 30 and is hoping he'll have a chance to meet Gritty, who received word of the letter and reposted it on his own account.
Already, Ardmore bakery Delice et Chocolat and Crust Vegan Bakery in Philadelphia have reached out with offers to bring Jack his own Gritty-themed cake.
- RELATED ARTICLES
- In honor of Gritty's birthday, four new bobbleheads of the mascot exist now
- Gritty 5k to take place week of Flyers home opener
- Blink-182's Mark Hoppus attached Gritty to his microphone stand in Camden
The Flyers will be back in the United States next week for their home opener against the New Jersey Devils. That leaves Gritty most of a month to figure out how to help Jack celebrate his fourth birthday.
Jack's uncle thanked everyone who reached out to him on Instagram and helped get the post the attention it deserved.
"Our hope is that in 10, 15, 25 years from now, Jack will be able to look back and see all the goodness that came from this awful disease and all the love that exists in the world," Callahan wrote.