England players have been talking about their childhood dreams to launch Unicef UK’s Children in Danger Summer Appeal.
Every day, 17,000 children die before they reach their fifth birthday from diseases that are easy to prevent - mainly because they aren’t able to get the healthcare and life-saving vaccines they need.
And the appeal is raising money to help protect millions of children from disease.
A very young Wayne Rooney
England captain Wayne Rooney revealed that, when he was five, he had dreams of becoming a singer, while Harry Kane wanted to be a fireman and Phil Jagielka dreamed of being a cowboy.
The players were also asked what they were scared of when they were five, with Gary Cahill admitting to a fear of heights and Michael Carrick confessing that the villains in the pantomime were his biggest fear.
When asked what the furthest they had travelled was at five years old, both Rooney and Carrick said they had never been further than Butlin’s, whilst Leighton Baines had never left Kirkby.
Last year the England Footballer’s Foundation (EFF) announced a four-year partnership with Unicef, the world’s leading children’s organisation, that will help tackle malaria, one of the gravest dangers for children in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria kills one child every sixty seconds.
Rooney said: “When I was very little I was quite shy but I remember wanting to be a singer. I’d never have imagined being able to achieve the things I’ve done, representing England and even captaining my country.
"Due to disease, millions of children aren’t even able to reach their fifth birthday which is absolutely shocking.
Arsenal's Jack Wilshere at five years old
"All the lads are really proud to be supporting Unicef’s Children in Danger campaign, to help keep more children safe from disease.”
England vice-captain Cahill added: “As long as I can remember I always wanted to be a footballer, but when I was five my biggest dream was to be able to fly.
"Unsurprisingly, I haven’t quite achieved that but I’ve been lucky enough to live out my other childhood dreams.
"That so many children are being denied this chance and are dying from diseases that are so easily prevented is heart-breaking, but it’s something we can change.
"We’re calling on the public to join our team and help beat disease.”
Unicef UK Executive Director, David Bull, said: “Unicef already supplies vaccines for one in three of the world’s children, and in 2014 we delivered 26 million mosquito nets to help keep millions of children and their families protected from malaria. But we won’t rest until every child is safe.
"By teaming up with the England Footballer’s Foundation and Unicef, the public can support our life-saving work and help protect millions of children from disease."
Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson at five
Earlier this month, England and Everton defender Jagielka visited St. Oswald’s Primary School in Liverpool with the England Footballer’s Foundation and Unicef UK.
He joined in with a class of five and six-year-old children who were drawing pictures of what they wanted to be when they grow up. St. Oswald’s is a Level 2 Unicef UK Rights Respecting School.
The Unicef UK Rights Respecting Schools Award recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at the heart of a school’s practice and culture.
Players including Rooney, Cahill, Jack Wilshere, Joe Hart and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also be fronting a nationwide publicity campaign raising awareness of the partnership and Unicef’s work protecting children from disease.
The England Footballers Foundation and Unicef have teamed up to protect millions of children from the danger of disease.
Visit unicef.uk/EFF to help keep children safe.
