Friday 8 June 2018 23:04, UK
Jermain Defoe said he feels blessed to receive an OBE but described it as a time of "mixed emotions" following the death of his young friend Bradley Lowery.
Bournemouth striker Defoe said the six-year-old's mother would be the first person he would call to share the "special" news of the recognition for charitable work.
The 35-year-old and Bradley formed a strong bond, with the little boy repeatedly picked to be a mascot for his beloved Sunderland while he battled neuroblastoma.
With the OBE for services to the Jermain Defoe Foundation coming just under a year after Bradley's death, the sporting star said he felt both pride and sadness.
He said: "It's obviously mixed emotions because obviously standing here [is] one of the proudest moments of my life, but at the same time remembering all the hurt.
"I've got great memories of Bradley in my head but it wasn't easy seeing someone that you love suffer like that, especially a young kid, where he didn't really understand what was going on and you have to remain positive."
Having found out the news of the honour over the phone from his mother while he holidayed in Dubai, Defoe said he was looking forward to telling Bradley's mother, who lives in Blackhall, County Durham, and the rest of his family.
"I can't wait to tell Gemma, I think she is the first person I am going to tell to be honest and I know she will be happy, she will be proud," he said.
"It's at the top because I feel like this is something completely different. I am proud of it to be honest. It's important to just give back and try and help others."
Defoe's foundation was launched in 2010 after a hurricane in St Lucia, the Caribbean island his grandparents came from.
He said the charity hopes to open a home for abused and vulnerable children there in the next few weeks and added the foundation has now expanded to help children in Dominica and the UK.
