Hollywood actor Tom Hanks sent a heartwarming letter and a Corona-brand typewriter to an Australian boy who said he was being bullied because of his name, Corona DeVries.
Corona, the 8-year-old boy from the northern Gold Goast in Queensland, first wrote to Mr Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson after hearing that they were diagnosed with the coronavirus while in Australia.
The couple quarantined and were treated for the virus, so he just wanted to do something to wish them a speedy recovery.
The boy had written to Hanks, saying: “I heard on the news you and your wife had caught the coronavirus. “Are you OK?”
He added that he loved his name but people at school called him the coronavirus, which made him “sad and angry.”
“I love my name but at school people call me the coronavirus. I get very sad and angry when people call me this.” he wrote to his idol.
Hanks later sent a letter in response and said: “Your letter made my wife and I feel so wonderful! Thank you for being such a good friend – friends make friends feel good when they are down.”
Mr Hanks and his wife returned the US after spending three weeks recovering from coronavirus in Australia last month.
“I saw you on TV, even though I was back in the USA already – and all healthy. Even though I was no longer sick, getting your letter made me feel even better.”
“You know, you are the only person I’ve ever known to have the name Corona – like the ring around the sun, a crown,” Mr Hanks wrote to the boy.
Alongside the letter boosted the spirits of the young boy, Hanks also sent him a surprise gift – his very own Corona typewriter.
“I thought this typewriter would suit you. Ask a grown up how it works. And use it to write me back.”
Corona’s family said he is a big fan of Woody in the Toy Story movies. For this reason, Hanks ended his letter with a Toy Story reference and added a handwritten note: “P.S. You got a friend in ME!”
We hope that Hanks’ letter will tell Corona how special his name is and encourage him to ignore the cruel bullies. The world always needs kindness and love, particularly at this tough time when everyone is struggling.
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