ICYMI: Actor Chris Hemsworth – star of Thor, Avengers and Ghostbusters – melts a Nairn mum’s heart
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HE’S arrogant and volatile on screen, but Thor actor Chris Hemsworth has proved he’s a honey in real life.
The Avengers star was so moved to hear the story of a Nairn family’s devastation with cancer he signed a pair of their charity’s specially-branded socks, popped on one of its wristbands, and then snapped some selfies and sent them back in the post as a heartfelt gesture.
The recipient, breast cancer battler Susan Hey, who co-founded the award-winning charity Team Hamish as a legacy to her eight-year-old son Hamish who died of cancer two years ago, was left speechless when she opened the surprise parcel.
“I had a massive lump in my throat because the significance of this is just absolutely incredible,” she said.
“Hamish, our real-life superhero, was a huge fan of this incredible man.”
The moving gift was prompted by a casual chat in Hemsworth’s dressing room with a set designer.
Mrs Hey explained: “I’m friends with a girl who has a really good job working on-set with some of the big names. She knew Hamish was a massive Avengers fan and so she told Chris all about us and he was like, ‘what can I do?’
“She said he was just really touched by the whole story and he told her to tell us he wishes Team Hamish all the luck in the world.”
It comes as the family gear up for their biggest annual fundraiser, Run for Hamish, next month.
Mrs Hey said it would be the last fun run in Hamish’s memory, and she doubted another event of its size would take its place, but she insisted fundraising for Team Hamish would carry on “because we need as much money as possible to make our vision as fantastic as we can”.
The charity’s “vision” is an all-weather splash park on the site of the paddling pool at Nairn Links and an amphitheatre for outdoor plays and events at the bowling green.
Team Hamish has raised more than £150,000 for the scheme which may attract external funding – and there are hopes the splash park plan, initially, can start to take shape this summer along with some play park improvements.
Meanwhile, the final Run for Hamish event, on June 9, will have a twist this year.
Those taking part will be asked to wear pants on their heads in a fun idea inspired by Hamish.
Mrs Hey said: “One morning he came through with a pair of pants on his head. He said ‘mum, you put two pairs out for me. I didn’t know what to do with the other pair so I thought I’d just put them on my head’.”
Mrs Hey said he looked so cute she took a picture of him.
“It’s such a heartbreaking photo but it sums up how much of a wee comedian he was. Our wee Captain Underpants.”
