Tom Hanks has donated a typewriter and written a personalised letter to a young boy who wrote to him to say that he'd been bullied for being called Corona. You can see the boy's reaction when he received the typewriter below:
While naming a child Corona probably seemed like a really nice idea at the time - it can mean either crown, or refer to the bright atmosphere around the sun - it's become unfortunate while we're living through these difficult times of you-know-what.
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Even more unfortunately, eight-year-old Corona De Vries has been bullied by his peers as a result of his name.
The youngster, who lives on Australia's Gold Coast, wrote to the Forrest Gump star on 6 April, a while after Hanks had been diagnosed with the virus himself, to explain his plight.
In the letter, which was seen by Channel 7 News, Corona expressed his sympathy for Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, who had also contracted the virus. He also explained how he'd received some less-than-friendly treatment as a result of his name.
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The youngster wrote: "I heard on the news you and your wife had caught the coronavirus. Are you OK?
"I love my name but at school people call me the coronavirus. I get very sad and angry when people call me this."
Within a matter of days, Hanks wrote back to Corona, writing: "Your letter made my wife and I feel so wonderful. Thank you for being such a good friend. Friends make their friends feel good when they are down.
"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."
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The Hollywood star then signed off his letter with a reference to Randy Newman's famous song from Toy Story, adding: "You've got a friend in me."
As well as the heart-warming letter, Hanks also sent Corona one of his many typewriters, which bears the brand name Corona.
He explained: "I thought this typewriter would suit you. I had taken it to the Gold Coast, and now, it is back - with you. Ask a grown up how it works. And use it to write me back."
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Let's hope that this is the start of a long and beautiful correspondence between the two.
Hanks and Wilson were stuck in Australia with the virus, after catching it when Hanks was filming an Elvis Presley biopic back in March.
Although they both made a full recovery and managed to return home to LA, Hanks revealed that it left him completely 'wiped' and 'very fatigued' as a result.
Featured Image Credit: PA/Nine NewsTopics: TV and Film, Celebrity, US Entertainment, Australia, Tom Hanks
