Lewis Capaldi made a heartfelt donation to a fan with a rare genetic disorder after meeting her outside his London concert. The 28-year-old singer, known for Someone You Loved and Before You Go, encountered Madeleine Thurgood and her mother Carina before his show at the O2 Arena last week and introduced himself to them. Madeleine, who uses a wheelchair, has Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia 15, a recessive condition that causes progressive muscle stiffness and weakness. Carina, who founded The Maddi Foundation in 2016 in her daughter’s honour, handed Capaldi a leaflet about a charity football match they were organising.
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Capaldi, currently on his UK comeback tour, reportedly donated “a few thousand” to support the event just ten minutes later, prompting Madeleine and her mother to “cry on the spot”. Madeleine described the singer as her “hero” and thanked him for “being so kind” and taking the time to meet her. A photograph of the encounter was shared on the Miracle for Maddi Instagram account, with Madeleine writing that the moment was “one of the best days” of her life. She added that seeing a TikTok video capturing the interaction made them all tear up again.
Carina told the BBC that Capaldi’s gesture was “amazing” and highlighted his generosity and down-to-earth manner. “He spotted my daughter Maddi, who’s in a wheelchair, and came over to speak to her. He’s so nice and incredibly generous. Maddi was overwhelmed,” she said. Donations to support Madeleine’s foundation can be made via her GoFundMe page. This is not the first time Capaldi has shown his supportive side to fans; earlier this year he partnered with BetterHelp to offer 734,000 hours of free online therapy, reflecting his ongoing advocacy for mental health.
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The singer is currently touring the UK after returning to the spotlight with a surprise appearance at Glastonbury, following a two-year hiatus. Due to overwhelming demand, Capaldi has added a second BST Hyde Park show for July 2026, with tickets now on sale. The BRIT Award-winning artist continues to receive praise for both his music and charitable efforts, highlighting his connection with fans across the country.
