London, Feb 6 : England striker Jermain Defoe has revealed that he is sponsoring a three-year-old orphan Lerato in Rustenberg, South Africa through a regular donation to a children’s charity.

Defoe, who has not met Lerato till now, will be taking time out from England’s quest to lift the World Cup and meet her for the first time, which he knows will be a heart-rending and emotional encounter.

“I have been showing her picture to everyone and they are all saying how cute she is. I''m really looking forward to going to visit her in South Africa in the summer. Maybe it will be a special day for her, but I know it will definitely be special for me,” The Sun quoted Defoe, as saying.

The 27-year-old said he thinks it is important to get involved in things like the charity to help people who are struggling and suffering to have a normal life.

“I just can’t imagine growing up without my mum and my grandparents. I honestly don’t know how I would have coped. They gave me so much love, help and so many opportunities and always told me to appreciate how lucky I was,” Defoe said.

“And I have certainly been lucky in life. I always wanted to be a footballer and here I am living the dream and with all the trappings. And to realise that, for many people, it is hard out there,” he added.

Defoe further believes that many people in United Kingdom could follow that lead.

“There’s a lot of people in this country enjoying a good life and endless opportunities - yet we forget what we have sometimes. We get wrapped up with things that are not really that important and just can’t see what’s going on elsewhere in the world. There are people really struggling and we should all do what we can to help,” Defoe said.

“It definitely means a lot to me to be involved with this – I’m putting something in, but also getting a whole lot out of it, too. It helps keep my feet on the ground, it gives me a focus outside of football and I’m proud that I am doing some good for someone, somewhere. That I’m helping take care of an orphan,” he added. (ANI)